The Prime Minister wrote:

Thank you for your letter informing me of your decision to resign from the Government. I believe you have made the right decision under the circumstances.

You have made a very significant contribution to the Government, of which you can be justly proud.

You were a member of the team which negotiated the formation of the Coalition Government between the Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats in those crucial days after the General Election, with our shared commitment to come together as two distinct political parties and govern in the national interest.

As Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, you have led the Government’s efforts to live up to its responsibility to tackle climate change with great passion and distinction.  You played a key role in securing the progress made at the Cancun and Durban summits, and I pay tribute to the leadership you …

Dr. Anthony Seldon, who has been leading on the improvements to the site,  introduces the History section and is joined this month by Professor George Jones, Dr. Andrew Blick and Professor Kevin Theakston with in-depth articles on Prime Ministers and Cabinet Secretaries.

New features include the virtual tour of the state rooms which has been enhanced to bring more information about the rooms to life.  This includes a ghost story in the Small Dining Room, an interview with the Number 10 gardeners  and art slide shows for the Cabinet Room, White Room and State Dining Room.

More content will be added throughout 2012, including an enhanced oral history programme and …

Countries right across Europe need bold action to recover their economic dynamism, to get to grips with their debts and to secure growth and jobs for the future. And that was rightly the focus of this Council.

So first, we agreed important measures needed to restore Europe’s competitiveness.

Next we discussed the separate intergovernmental treaty on fiscal discipline in the Eurozone.

And finally we issued a statement on Iran, Syria and Burma. Let me take each in turn.

Competitiveness

Mr Speaker, Britain’s agenda in Europe is to promote growth, competitiveness and jobs.

We have repeatedly said that the best way that the EU can drive growth and create jobs is:

At this Council we made important progress on all these issues.

We agreed to establish a fully functioning …

Welcome everybody.  Today the Council has tackled three issues: how we boost growth across Europe; how the Eurozone countries are going to strengthen their fiscal rules; and how the European Union must increase the pressure on Assad’s murderous regime.  Let me take each in turn.

Let me start with growth.  This was rightly the focus of today’s meeting.  It has to be our number one priority, not just today, but every time we meet.  My message to other leaders was clear: we’ve got to be bold and decisive.  EU action should match the ambition that we are showing back at home.  So it’s a step forward, I believe,   that we’ve agreed today to accelerate the legislation that will do the most to generate growth, to consider a clear plan at our March summit to cut red tape, to remove barriers to trade in services right …

The extra summit was called to discuss growth and competitiveness.

Following the meeting, the Prime Minister spoke at a press conference:

“My message to other leaders was clear. We’ve got to be bold and decisive. EU action should match the ambition that we are showing back at home. So it’s a step forward, I believe, that we agreed today to accelerate the legislation that will do the most to generate growth; to consider a clear plan at our March summit to cut red tape; to remove barriers in trade to services right across the EU; and to make it easier to do business online.”

 …

Thank you.  It’s a pleasure to welcome my friend President Karzai to the United Kingdom again, and also back here to Chequers.  We’ve had very good discussions this morning about progress in Afghanistan, progress towards 2014 and 2015, and all that we are doing to try to help ensure a strong, peaceful, democratic unitary state of Afghanistan.  And the strong relationship between Britain and Afghanistan is evidenced by the long-term partnership that we’ve just signed.  Obviously Britain has paid a very heavy price fighting the insurgency in Afghanistan and tragically we’ve lost another soldier from the Yorkshire regiment recently and my thoughts and the thoughts of everyone in Britain will be with the family of that soldier for the loss that they have suffered.  

But I do believe in Afghanistan that we are making progress, first of all on the ground.  The level of violent incidents is down across the country, it’s down very …

Mr Cameron said:

“Last year I had the privilege of meeting an extraordinary, courageous woman.

Trude Levi was just twenty when she was ripped from her family.

She was forced on a journey that can only be described as hellish, through concentration camps, work camps and death marches.

She saw and suffered some unspeakably evil things, but she survived to tell her story and pass it on to the next generation.

It is so important that stories like Trude’s continue to be heard, and read, and spoken about.

That way the brutal truth of the Holocaust can never be dimmed.

And that is why Holocaust Memorial Day matters so much.

It is about keeping the truth alive, guarding against prejudice in all its forms and above all, showing respect to those who were killed and those who survived.

And as we reflect on this part of our history – and all the millions killed through …

“We meet today at a perilous moment for economies right across Europe.

Growth has stalled. Unemployment is rising. The prospect of Europe getting left behind is all too apparent.

While China grows at 8%, India at 7% and Africa at 5.5%, the European Commission forecasts the EU will grow by just 0.6 per cent in the whole of 2012 – and even that is assuming the problems in the Eurozone get better not worse.

Yesterday in Britain we had the official figures for the final quarter of last year – and they were negative.

Other large economies of Europe are forecast to have a similar outcome. 

In just four years Government debt per EU citizen has risen by 4,500 euros. Foreign direct investment has fallen by around two-thirds.

And in more than half of EU Member States, a fifth of all young people are now out of work. So this …

As global growth forecasts are revised down and world trade continues to contract, the Prime Minister set out his belief that Europe can recover its dynamism only if challenges are confronted with real political will.

In a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, David Cameron said:

“This is a time to show the leadership our people are demanding. Tinkering here and there and hoping we’ll drift to a solution simply won’t cut it any more.  This is a time for boldness not caution. Boldness in what we do nationally – and together as a continent.”

The Prime Minister explained that, in the name of social protection, the EU has promoted unnecessary measures that impose burdens on businesses and governments, and can destroy jobs.

He explained:

“We can’t go on like this. That is why Britain has been arguing for a pro-business agenda in Europe.

“We …

The Quarterly Data Summaries are designed to fit on a single page to provide a quarterly snapshot on how each department is spending its budget, the results it has achieved and how it is deploying its workforce.

The summaries follow commitments made in the 2011 Budget and the Written Ministerial Statement on Business Plans. Their primary purpose is to make more of the management information currently held by government available to members of the public on a regular basis.

This information is not audited and the quality and accuracy of the data needs to dramatically improve. However, over time with improvements in data quality and timeliness the public will be able to judge the performance of each department in a meaningful and understandable manner.

An annual version of this information is formally laid in Parliament in the Annual Report and Accounts.

The information is presented in excel format to allow the information to be presented in a re-usable format.

“Once in a generation, each member has the honour of leading the Council of Europe.

Today, I want to speak about the once-in-a-generation chance we have, together, to improve the way we enhance the cause of human rights, freedom and dignity.

We have an ambitious agenda for the coming months…

…to reinforce local democracy…

…to combat discrimination…

…to strengthen the rule of law across Europe.

But the focus of our Chairmanship, as you know, is our joint effort to reform the European Court of Human Rights.

The role of the Court has never been more challenging.

As the Council has expanded, more and more people have applied to seek justice.

We need to work together to ensure that throughout these changes, the Court remains true to its original intention: to uphold the Convention and prevent the abuse of human rights.

So today, I want to explain why I believe the Court needs …

Delighted to be here and delighted to be launching this initiative. I said earlier this month that 2012 has got to be the year when we go for it. The year that we light new fires of ambition in our economy. The year when we get behind Britain’s grafters, do-ers, hard workers and entrepreneurs.

This isn’t something we’d quite like to do; this is something we’ve absolutely got to do because enterprise is critical to this country’s future.

As so often, Winston Churchill put it best. He said some people regard private enterprise as a predatory tiger that needs …

Asda plans to open 25 stores, refurbish 43 existing outlets and invest in three new depots in 2012. The chain said it will create up to 5,000 jobs on top of the 30,000 staff it took on last year when it opened about a dozen stores and absorbed 147 Netto sites and their staff following its acquisition.

Asda said nearly half of the jobs it created last year had gone to young people, while 8,500 jobs went to people who had signed up through Job Centre Plus. The chain, which currently employs more than 180,000 people and runs 528 stores across the UK, also pledged that eligible employees would be given the chance to take City & Guilds apprenticeships.

 Mr Cameron said:

“The additional investment and 5,000 new jobs announced by Asda today will be a real boost for the economy and more importantly for people around Britain seeking jobs.

“I also welcome Asda’s commitment …

Mr Cameron said:

“I want to send my very best wishes to everyone celebrating the Chinese New Year – here in Britain, in China and all around the world.‬‪

“This is a very special year for Britain and China. Britain was the first Western country to recognise the People’s Republic of China. And this year we celebrate the 40th Anniversary of full diplomatic ties. Indeed, today Britain’s ties with China are deeper and broader than at any time in our history. Our trade continues to expand rapidly with Britain remaining the most open economy in Europe for Chinese investment. There are more Chinese students studying in the UK and more British students in China than ever before. There are even two giant Chinese Pandas in Edinburgh zoo – a great attraction, with people from all over the world going to see them. And of course there are Chinese communities here in …

Business in You helps make your business idea happen. Whether you’re looking to test your ideas, or develop your financial and planning skills, it gives you the support and inspiration you need, highlighting real-life examples of success.

It also provides links to key business-support advice, pointing you to top tools available from Businesslink, Start Up Britain and a whole range of partners.…

“It is with great sadness that I can confirm that the British Embassy in Baghdad received a body today that has been identified as Alan McMenemy, who was kidnapped in Baghdad in 2007, along with four other men. The bodies of Jason Swindlehurst, Jason Creswell and Alec MacLachlan were returned in 2009. Peter Moore was the only hostage released alive in 2010.

“My thoughts are with Alan’s family and friends at this time. They have waited so long for his return and I hope that this will allow them to find some peace after an ordeal that no family should ever have to suffer. 

“At this time we should also take time to remember the families of Margaret Hassan and Ken Bigley who are still waiting for the return of their loved ones.”…

 The Co-operatives Bill will cut red tape and help to build a fairer economy, ensuring that even more co-operative members can share in the benefits of enterprise. 

Announcing his intention in a speech today, David Cameron said:

“We know that breaking monopolies, encouraging choice, opening up new forms of enterprise is not just right for business but the best way of improving public services too.
 
“But right now there are too many barriers in the way… so today I can announce they will all be brought together and simplified in a new Co-Operatives Bill that will be put before Parliament.”

Welcoming the announcement, Ed Mayo, Secretary General of Co-operatives UK, added:

“The new act is intended to make it as easy and natural to form a co-operative as any other form of business. We are delighted …

Today our discussions are focussed on the European economy, on the urgent need for a credible solution to the Eurozone crisis, and on how we can release the brakes on growth to generate wealth and jobs and enterprise. We both agree that the EU single market with 500 million customers, €11 trillion of economic activity, this is a unique resource and we must make the most of its advantages. There are three priorities where I want to see action.

First, a new EU growth test. I think we should …

The subject we’re going to look at today which I’m very passionate about is the issue of coasting schools.  I think we’d all agree that the last government and this government taking very, very strong …

The Prime Minister has previously shone a spotlight on this area, describing it as a “hidden crisis” because pupils are failing to reach their full potential in schools that ought to support them to achieve their very best.

Ahead of the event, Ofsted’s Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw, said he intends to scrap the ‘satisfactory’ judgment for school inspections. The change to inspections aims to address schools that drift without making progress. His proposals, which will be subject to consultation, would mean that any school that does not provide a good standard of education will be given a new “requires improvement’ grade.

The Prime Minister welcomed Ofsted’s announcement in an open newsletter:

“Last year I spoke out about the scandal of coasting schools …

Street League engages young people in structured football and education programmes, helping them to harness their strengths on the pitch like teamwork, leadership and motivational skills, and apply them to the world of work. During 2011 Street League have helped more than 400 young people into work or education and training – many of whom have been among the hardest to help and from some of the most troubled or disadvantaged backgrounds.

The reception was attended by Arsenal football captain Robin Van Persie, around 40 young people who have benefitted from Street League’s work and some of the employers who have taken them on over the course of the year.

Over the year Downing Street staff – including the Prime Minister himself – have been volunteering with Street League. This has included running mock job interviews and hosting Street League events …

Saudi Arabia has unique influence in the region and across the Islamic World as the custodian of the two holy places; a member of the Gulf Co-operation Council and the only Arab member of the G20. Saudi Arabia is also the UK’s largest trading partner in the Middle East, with bilateral trade worth over £15 billion every year and Saudi Arabian investment in the UK is worth more than £62 billion.

Building a strong relationship with Saudi Arabia is vital to advancing the United Kingdom’s priorities in the region:  increasing exports and investment; boosting  energy security and creating jobs; co-operating on security, counter-proliferation and counter-terrorism; and promoting stability through political reform and human rights.  That’s why Britain is committed to its long-standing relationship with Saudi Arabia, as a key partner to deliver these goals for the people of the UK and of the region.  For example, …

As part of a drive to get views from business owners, website Businesszone is hosting a panel discussion at Downing Street tomorrow from 11:45am, featuring:

You can ask questions live tomorrow. To pose a question in advance, email editor@businesszone.co.uk or tweet using #redtapewebchat.

You can also send your views direct to government officials via the Red Tape Challenge website.

Launching the theme on new business models late last year, David Cameron said:

“We’re expanding the Red Tape Challenge, so it doesn’t just cover the red tape that affects businesses today, but the businesses of tomorrow too. Because we’ve heard from start-ups that they’re innovating so fast, their innovations are out-stripping the regulation that currently exists.

“At its simplest deregulation has got to be about making it easier to start a business …