Tag: Treasury

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 23 September 1999.

The Government’s commitment to providing a better deal for families with children was championed today by the Chief Secretary Alan Milburn as he met staff and users at a new £2.5m Sure Start project being developed in Howdon, North Tyneside.

He commented:

“When we came into office one in three children were living in low income families with a higher number of children growing up in workless households than any other European country. And in North Tyneside 25% of children are in households dependent on income support.

We are determined to address the causes of poverty and provide help where and when it is most needed to give every child the best start in life. As the Prime Minister has said, we aim to abolish child poverty over the next 20 years.

We have put in place a comprehensive package of measures of which the Sure Start programme is an integral part. Its £540 million over the next three years is aimed at providing a co-ordinated approach to services for families with children aged under four.

I am very pleased to be able to see for myself how the Howdon Centre is providing local parents and children with the high quality services and advice they need.”

Howdon is one of 60 areas that have been invited to put forward proposals under the Sure Start programme, including 4 others in the North East. So far 54 areas have been given the go-ahead. The aim is to build up to 250 by the end of the Parliament. It is expected that the Government will be investing in the region of £12 million over the next three years in the North East Sure Start programmes. Sure Start aims to provide new services and reshape existing ones for children from birth to 4, and their families.

Around 15,000 people live in the area covered by the Howdon Centre, of which 810 are under 4. It is a mixed housing area where 21% of households contain a lone parent. There are high levels of teenage pregnancies, low birth weight babies and juvenile crime rates.

The Howdon Sure Start programme will include enhanced health visiting and midwifery services, a community mothers scheme, a drop in centre, family support sessions, pre-school playgroups, day care for babies and children, speech therapy, special needs project and a sensory room.

Mr Milburn will be looking at new multi-sensory equipment designed to encourage children to interact with their suroundings, visiting the creche and talking to staff, parents, local residents and key service providers.

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 20 September 1999.

A call for the EU to contribute one billion euros to aid debt relief has been issued today by the Chancellor Gordon Brown and International Development Secretary, Clare Short.

The Ministers have written to EC Commissioners Chris Patten and Poul Neilson proposing a contribution of one billion euros from the European Development Fund to aid the costs of debt relief for the most heavily indebted poor countries (HIPCs).

The Chancellor Gordon Brown said:

“Debt relief for the most heavily indebted poor countries is one of the major challenges facing all of us in the run-up to the Millennium.

“This is a major opportunity for Europe to take a strong political lead on one of the great moral issues of our time.

Development Secretary Clare Short said:

“The G7 agreed at Cologne speedier and more generous action to reduce debt relief and ensure the benefits help the poor.

“We have made the biggest pledge of $171 million for the HIPC Trust Fund. It is now time for others to back up their commitments with firm pledges of support.

“But we must also ensure that poor people have a stronger voice in ensuring the benefits of debt relief really benefit the poor.”

The Chancellor also announced that, for the first time, there will be a joint meeting of the Interim and Development Committees in Washington this coming Sunday.

A copy of the letter to the EC Commissioners is attached.

Poul Neilson
Commissioner For Development Cooperation And Humanitarian Aid

Chris Patten
Commissioner For External Relations

European Commission
Rue de Ia Loi 200
B-I 049 Brussels
BELGIUM

Dear Poul and Chris

HIPC/DEBT RELIEF: EDF CONTRIBUTION

We would like to pass on our congratulations and warmest wishes to both of you on the confirmation of your appointment as Commissioners. We are sure you are already looking forward to the challenges ahead. As you know debt relief for the most heavily indebted poor countries (HIPCS) is one of the major challenges facing the developing world in the run-up to the Millennium.

You will be aware, we wrote in April to Commissioners Pinheiro and Mann to propose a contribution of some 1 billion euro from the European Development Fund to the costs of HIPC. It is clear that the ambitious and comprehensive solution to debt and poverty proposed since then, and which will be discussed at the forthcoming Annual Meeting of the IMF and World Bank, will require additional funding, particularly for the African Development Bank and some other multilaterals. We welcome the considerable support amongst EU Finance and Development Ministers for the possibility of a contribution from the European Union to the costs of HIPC over and above the EU’s own requirements as creditor.

We understand that there are no substantive legal impediments to the use of EDF resources for HIPC. But, there has been an understandable delay, pending your assumption of duties in working up a full proposal. Now that you are in office, we urge you to make this one of your first priorities.

This is a major opportunity for Europe to take a strong political lead on one of the great issues of our time. Debt relief will be one of the most important issues to be discussed at the Annual Meetings. Although final agreement to use any of the EDF underspends rests with the joint European Union and African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Ministerial Council, we believe that a Commission Position Paper outlining the options for using the IEDF in time for the Annual Meetings would be very helpful in securing agreement to a financing package for HIPC as a whole. That in turn would allow the new HIPC to be in place as the new Millennium begins. We believe that such a Position Paper from the Commission would receive widespread support from the citizens of the EU and ACP.

We are copying this letter to our EU Finance and Development colleagues.

GORDON BROWN                                 CLARE SHORT
Chancellor of the Exchequer                   Secretary of State for
International Development

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 16 September 1999.

A concerted autumn campaign to shine a spotlight on the Government’s improvements in local services and drive standards up to the levels of the best took a further turn today as Chief Secretary Alan Milburn visited a range of innovative local transport schemes in the Nottingham area.

He is determined to see for himself what is happening at a local level to deliver the Government’s modernisation and reform programme. Following a look at Youth Court activities in Teesside last week he will today be visiting; a highly acclaimed local rail service, the Robin Hood Line; a rural bus scheme which has links to it; a safe route to school project operated by Whyburn School; and the Rainworth Bypass road scheme.

Alan Milburn commented:

” The Government is determined to drive forward its modernisation programme to provide the high quality services throughout the country that we all want to see.

A lot of imaginative and innovative work is going on at a local level to deliver the Government’s commitment to a more integrated transport system. I am very pleased to be here in the Nottingham area today to see for myself what Nottingham City Council and the County Council are doing to reduce congestion, improve safety and encourage the greater use of public transport.”

The Chief Secretary will be meeting a number of senior representatives from Nottingham City Council and the County Council as he travels on the Robin Hood Line. The lines eleven new stations have been specifically designed to be accessible by people with disabilities and for interchange with car, bus and cycle.

As he visits Newstead Abbey he will be learning about the regular bus services that are being provided to this major tourist attraction, with links to the Robin Hood Line.

He will be discussing with school staff and local authority representatives the safe route to school project being operated by Whyburn School. The aim of such schemes is to reduce accidents around schools as well as reduce the number of cars used to transport children to and from school.

The Rainworth Bypass is part of the Mansfield Ashfield Regeneration Route, designed to open up land for development and improve access to the former coalfield area.

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 5 September 1999.

John Healey MP (Wentworth) has been appointed as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown.

Educated at Christ’s College, Cambridge, Mr Healey was a journalist/deputy editor for the House Magazine from 1983-84. He was a disability campaigner for three national charities from 1984-90 and campaigns manager at Issue Communications from 1990-92. From 1991-94, Mr Healey was a part-time tutor for the Open University Business School, and was Head of Communications at MSF Union from 1992-94. Mr Healey was Campaigns Director of the TUC from 1994 until he entered Parliament as MP for Wentworth on 1 May 1997.

Born in 1960, Mr Healey is married with one son.

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 15 September 2022.

Financial Secretary to the Treasury Stephen Timms today called on American entrepreneurs to invest in Britain and tap into first class British research into information technology and biotechnology.

Speaking at Stanford University, California, to an audience of some 400 American entrepreneurs and venture capitalists, Mr Timms said:

“This Government has set out to build a new Britain which will be modern and decent – a thriving, knowledge-based economy, and one where every person has the chance to play their full part. It has become very clear to me today that we have a great deal to learn from what is happening here about how to build a modern economy, but also about how to build a decent society as well.

“There is one message I should like to impress upon you. That is there are great opportunities today for venture capital investment in the United Kingdom, which I hope a number of you will explore.

“The quality of research in the UK has always been very high – especially today – in information technology and biotechnology. In the past it has been severely under exploited.

“We are determined to change that. We are taking major steps to promote the commercialisation of the research produced by our universities. Universities like Cambridge are themselves promoting entrepreneurship. And we are taking new steps to promote the commercialisation of the research produced in other public sector research establishments. Underpinning such initiatives we aim to transform the whole business environment in the UK.

“There is compelling evidence that our new macroeconomic policy framework has delivered an economic stability that has eluded British Governments for 30 years.

“We are learning from the models that you have pioneered to adapt a new quality of partnership between business and Government that will address the big issues that face us both.

“We are introducing new tax incentives to encourage individual entrepreneurship and corporate venturing.

“Earlier this week the Prime Minister, Tony Blair in a major speech in Cambridge set out how we are building an environment for e-commerce to match the best in the world.

“It adds up to a huge opportunity for investment. The UK is the biggest overseas investor in the United States, and the US is the United Kingdom’s biggest trading partner. About half the venture capital investment in Europe today is in the UK, and half of that is provided from the US.

“So the foundations are in place and the potential is immense. We want to work with you – the British Consul General is here to work with you – to see that potential realised.

“Britain is open for business – come and join us.

“Thank you again for your welcome.”

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 14 September 1999.

Help is at hand for public sector procurement officers as a new guide to help public sector improvement in procurement standards was launched jointly today by Chief Secretary to the Treasury Alan Milburn and Minister of State at the Cabinet Office Ian McCartney.

The Procurement Excellence Guide will be applied across the public sector to test the effectiveness of their procurement activities by measuring performance and achieving continuous improvement in their operations.

The guide will provide the basis for measuring the effectiveness of the recently announced Office for Government Commerce and Departments in pursuing savings of up to £1 billion over the next three years.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Alan Milburn said:

“Procurement plays a key role in the efficient and cost effective delivery of goods and services of any organisation. It is only right that we strive to deliver a well run public sector organisation that gives the taxpayer value for money. This Excellence guide gives us the means to measure procurement performance, a key factor in improving delivery of the services the public sector provides.

“Public sector organisations now have the chance to demonstrate their ability to be at the leading edge of procurement development. This will allow for a cohesive approach across all areas of the public sector including central government, local government and the National Health Service and to improve best practice and delivery functions.”

Minister of State at the Cabinet Office Ian McCartney said:

“This publication of the guide is an important part of the Modernising Government agenda, which commits us to delivering responsive and high quality public services. The guide gives public sector organisations the means to measure procurement performance, a key factor in improving the delivery of services.

“The guide shows how the European Foundation for Quality Management’s Excellence Model® can be applied to particular functions as well as to particular organisations. I am sure it will encourage procurement staff throughout the public sector to use this Model to improve procurement practices.”

The Procurement Excellence Guide has been tailored for public sector procurement and emphasises the key role that procurement plays in the efficient and cost effective delivery of goods and services that public sector organisations need.

The Procurement Excellence Guide builds on expanding use of the European Foundation for Quality Management Excellence Model® by public sector organisations, as a means of measuring performance and achieving continuous improvement in their operation.

The European Foundation for Quality Management’s Excellence Model® is an important part of the Modernising Government agenda. The Model was revised in April 1999 and is wholly applicable to the public sector. Over 90 per cent of public sector users of the Model report that their performance improvement rate increased as a result of using the Model.

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 10 September 1999.

The Chancellor Gordon Brown has been appointed as the new chairman of the Interim Committee of the International Monetary Fund.

The Prime Minister welcomed the news and said:

“This is a tremendous accolade both for the Chancellor and for Britain.

“It shows the high regard in which Gordon is held both at home and abroad, the leading influence of British ideas in the international financial community and his personal leadership on issues such as Third World debt.”

The Committee was established in 1974 to advise the IMF on the management of the international monetary system as well as dealing with any sudden shocks to the system. The Chancellor replaces Carlo Azeglio Ciampi who resigned in May 1999 when he became President of Italy.

The Chancellor said:

“I am looking forward to working with my international colleagues to ensure the Committee plays an effective role in the international monetary system and in the governance of the IMF.

“This is an important time for international financial institutions and I am looking forward to leading the debate about reforms to the Committee to give it a permanent standing as well as further reforms to bring greater stability to the international financial system.”

The Chancellor will lead the discussions on reform of the Interim Committee following proposals put forward by the G7 Finance Ministers earlier this year. Those proposals included putting the Interim Committee on a permanent footing and giving it the name ‘International and Financial Monetary Committee.’

Discussions will also focus on a number of reforms to the international financial architecture, including involving the private sector in crisis prevention and resolution within the international financial system and the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative to help relieve Third World debt.

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 10 September 1999.

Better communication and exchange of information between national financial regulators will help protect investors in cross-border dealings involving UK and Turkish investments, Economic Secretary Melanie Johnson said today.

Announcing the eighth such bilateral agreement to be reached, Miss Johnson said;

“I welcome this Memorandum of Understanding on international regulatory co-operation between the UK and Turkey. The agreement, between the Treasury, the Financial Services Authority, the London Stock Exchange, and the Capital Markets Board of Turkey, will help in the process of protecting investors in our two countries.

“This will add to the existing agreements with the US, Australian, Swiss, Hong Kong, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, and EU authorities in enhancing the attractiveness of the City of London as a major financial centre dealing with counterparts around the world and encouraging more Turkish companies to list in London.

“This agreement will seek to protect investors and promote the integrity of financial markets by providing a framework of co-operation between regulatory authorities.

“This framework will provide clear channels of communication, enhance mutual understanding, and allow the regulatory authorities to provide each other with investigative assistance and exchange confidential regulatory information.

“This should assist the enforcement of laws, rules, and regulations in the field of securities, and help tackle any insider dealing, market manipulation, or other fraudulent and deceptive practices.”

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 8 September 1999.

As announced in the Budget, work is getting underway to introduce a Graduated Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) system for new cars based primarily on their emissions of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) will shortly be opening technical discussions with a range of bodies so that the environmental information upon which the new system is to be based can be collected when a new car is registered and then used in the new VED system.

As announced by the Chancellor in his March Budget, the system will apply to cars first registered from Autumn 2000, and will be introduced on a revenue neutral basis. It forms part of the Government’s effort to encourage motorists and manufacturers to buy and make greener vehicles.

As the Government proposed in a consultation document last November, there will be four VED rate bands according to their rate of emission of carbon dioxide — which is linked directly to fuel efficiency — with the potential for example to reward less-polluting fuels.

Cars first registered before the new system is introduced will continue to be taxed under the existing engine size-based system.

Details of the scheme will be announced in next year’s Budget in advance of the system’s introduction.

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 9 September 1999.

Youth Court services in the North East come under the national spotlight today as Chief Secretary Alan Milburn visits Teesside Youth Court to see the Government’s modernization programme in action.

Alan Milburn has chosen Teesside to kick off a national programme of visits to front line services to highlight what Ministers regard as the unacceptable variations in performance between similar public service organizations. This reflects Ministers’ belief that while improvements in public services are taking place, especially now that the Government’s record levels of investment have come on line, progress is too uneven. Some local services are making more progress than others reflecting differences in management and organization more than levels of funding.

The Government is pledged to halve the time taken to get persistent young offenders through the youth justice system from arrest to sentence – and Cleveland is one of the top best performing areas in England and Wales. The aim is to spread best practice so that poorer performers are brought up to the levels of the best.

Alan Milburn commented:

“Teesside is leading the way in bringing young offenders speedily to book. When the Government came into office it was taking nearly five months, 142 days between the arrest of persistent young offenders and their punishment by the courts. These delays were unacceptable.

The Government is pledged to halve the time taken from arrest to sentence for persistent young offenders. I am pleased that youth courts in the North East are well on the way to meeting this pledge.

I am here today to see for myself what is being done, what lessons can be learned by others and what else needs to be done to tackle youth crime.

The Government is driving forward the modernization of our key public services so they provide excellence for the many and not just the few. We want to see high quality services everywhere. That is fair to the people who use these services and the taxpayers who fund them.

Improvements are already coming through but change takes time and effort as well as resources. We know that there are too many unacceptable variations in performance across the public services. That is why we are taking action to crack down on failure and reward success. And we want to see the worst learning from the best. We will not tolerate second best.”

The Government is pledged to halve the time from arrest to sentence from 142 to 71 days. The average for England and Wales for the whole of last year was down to 125 days, by December it was down to 106 days. There is still much to be done, however to ensure persistent young offenders are met with a speedy response in every area. In some areas it still takes an average of 163 days, while in another it is already down to 84 days. Cleveland is the seventh best of the 44 areas with a figure of 103 days.

Cleveland is now producing a Joint Improvement Plan to set out how further reductions will be made and has received additional financial help from the national Youth Justice Board’s Development Fund to improve services for its young offenders. Cleveland, along with Redcar and Middlesborough are also jointly involved in a multi-agency Youth Offending Team to work with young offenders in the community.

Alan Milburn’s programme of visits during September and October is the start of a concerted autumn campaign to shine the spotlight on how local services are using the extra resources they have been given to meet the performance targets they have been set by the Government.