Home > News

News

This page gives you access to the latest Government news that may affect those living in, working in, or visiting Yorkshire and The Humber.

Sheffield businessess boosted by new micro-loan fund
Published: 23/07/08
Hundreds of companies in areas of Sheffield could benefit from extra investment, following the launch of a new Fund aimed at start-up and existing businesses.

1,700 land girls in Yorkshire and the Humber receive badge of honour for war efforts
Published: 23/07/08
Over 1,700 former members of the Women's Land Army and Timber Corps from Yorkshire and the Humber will receive a special badge of honour this summer in recognition of their efforts to provide for the nation during World War II.

Defra announces plans to replace current Hill Farm Allowance Scheme
Published: 22/07/08
From 2010, specific support to upland areas will be integrated into Environmental Stewardship schemes, to reward hill farmers for the environmental and landscape benefits they deliver.

Crime falls in Yorkshire and The Humber
Published: 17/07/08
Crime recorded by the police has fallen by 10 per cent in Yorkshire and the Humber over the last year, new figures published today show.

Healey - eighteen authorities in Yorkshire & the Humber get £18.7m further flood funding
Published: 17/07/08
Floods Recovery Minister John Healey today announced that 18 local authorities in Yorkshire & the Humber would together receive £18.7million, the lion's share of almost £31m going to 62 UK authorities to support their continued efforts to rebuild communities after last summer's floods.

Thirteen hundred flood-hit families returned home in June
Published: 16/07/08
Floods Recovery Minister John Healey today announced that the number of flood-hit families still out of their homes has fallen by a quarter in the last month and the number living in caravans has halved.

''more than the sum of their parts'' - new partnership in South Yorkshire and Leeds City region seals deal to increase economic growth
Published: 14/07/08
People in South Yorkshire and the Leeds City Region are set to benefit from a new partnership agreed today that will help boost economic prosperity and quality of life for local people and close financial inequalities across England.

Cream of Yorkshire and Humber's business off to the Palace
Published: 11/07/08
On Monday, 14 July, representatives of 15 Yorkshire and Humber companies that have won The Queen's Awards for Enterprise 2008 are attending an evening reception hosted by The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace.

Top Ministers in Leeds to seek views on new laws
Published: 11/07/08
The Minister for Yorkshire & the Humber, Rosie Winterton, and Cabinet Minister Ed Miliband are in Leeds today (Friday 11 July) to urge people in the region to have their say on the Government's proposed new laws.

Blears hands more power to residents in Bradford, Barnsley and Calderdale
Published: 09/07/08
Local people will be urged to take more control over disused council buildings if they can show they can do a better job, as part of the Government's plans to devolve more power from Whitehall to local people in a White Paper announced today.

Leeds, Sheffield and Rotherham win cash for spreading good practice
Published: 04/07/08
Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Hazel Blears, last night announced extra funding to encourage local government to spread their good practice and work - from affordable housing to anti-social behaviour.

Call for nominations Tackling Drugs Changing Lives awards launched in Yorkshire and the Humber
Published: 01/07/08
The Tackling Drugs Changing Lives Awards, which recognise, reward and celebrate the people on the front-line who are working to tackle drugs and change lives every day, were launched on 30 June by Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker.

Councils in Yorkshire and the Humber to get more than £31.6 million cash boost for local business growth
Published: 26/06/08
Local Government Minister John Healey today confirmed that 371 councils will share almost £300million as a reward for successfully promoting economic growth in their areas.

Healey urges councils to spend tax as efficiently as they collect it
Published: 18/06/08
Local Government Minister John Healey today praised councils on improving the amount of council tax collected for the eighth successive year.

Draft Floods and Water Bill to deliver improved management of surface water flooding
Published: 17/06/08
Details of how the proposed Floods and Water Bill would ensure the country is better prepared to deal with surface water flooding in the future, will today be outlined by Environment Minister Phil Woolas.

Acas urges Yorkshire & Humber carers to seek help in the workplace
Published: 10/06/08
With three million people in the UK juggling work with caring responsibilities, Acas, the employment relations specialists, is urging employees in the Yorkshire & Humber region to seek help in the workplace ahead of Carers week which starts on the 9 June. In the Yorkshire & Humber region there are an estimated 518,211 carers, many of whom also work.

Cash for Barnsley and North Lincs hit by January floods
Published: 10/06/08
Six councils affected by flooding in several parts of the country in January are being given the chance to claim cash from the Department for Communities and Local Government. These include Barnsley and North Lincolnshire in our region.

Cash for Areas hit by January floods
Published: 10/06/08
Two of the regions councils affected by flooding in in January are being given the chance to claim cash from the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Leeds Children's Services named as a pilot for a programme to give young people five hours of culture a week
Published: 29/05/08
A Partnership led by Leeds Children's Services has been picked by the Government to be one of ten areas around the country to pilot the Government's £25 million Find your Talent programme. The scheme will give young people the chance to encounter a range of high-quality cultural experiences for a guaranteed five hours a week. Children in the pilot areas will be able to discover and develop their talents in the cultural sphere. In time, the Government wants all young people to have the right to experience five hours of arts and culture every week.

Healey announces further flood funding for Barnsley
Published: 23/05/08
Floods Recovery Minister John Healey has announced almost £400,000 funding for Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council to help reimburse some of the costs after last summer's floods. This brings the total funding for Barnsley to deal with the summer floods to over £1.6 million.

New housing and jobs for Yorkshire & The Humber
Published: 21/05/08
A twenty year vision to deliver new houses, tackle climate change, encourage economic growth and regeneration of the Yorkshire and Humber region was published today by Communities Minister Baroness Andrews.

Experts challenge developers to raise their game on eco-towns in Yorkshire and Humber
Published: 20/05/08
Fourteen leading experts will today challenge developers to improve their visions for eco-towns and deliver world-class proposals for the first new towns in the UK for 45 years.

Minister visits drug intervention workers in Grimsby
Published: 19/05/08
A week of tough enforcement against drug dealers, drug awareness sessions for parents and education activities for young people has been launched by Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker in Grimsby today.

Extra funding for rural stations in the Yorkshire and Humber region
Published: 15/05/08
Passengers on rural and regional rail services across the country are set to benefit from a £60,000 fund for Community Rail Partnerships, Rail Minister Tom Harris announced today.

Preparing Britain for the future - Yorkshire & Humber Regional Minister seeks views on proposed new laws
Published: 15/05/08
People across Yorkshire and the Humber, and throughout the UK, are being asked to contribute their thoughts on proposed legislation that the Government will bring before Parliament in the next session. Regional Minister for Yorkshire and the Humber Rosie Winterton today said she wanted to hear views from the people on the proposed new laws from every sector and every part of the region.

Funding boost to help South Yorkshire schoolchildren get involved in the fight against global poverty
Published: 08/05/08
Schoolchildren in South Yorkshire will get a chance to join the fight against global poverty thanks to new Government funding announced today.

Healey announces £31m restoration fund for flood-hit communities
Published: 08/05/08
Floods Recovery Minister John Healey said on 6 May that all the extra money the UK is receiving from the European Union (EU) to help with flood recovery will be passed on to communities affected by last summer's floods.

The milk roadmap
Published: 02/05/08
By 2020 half of all milk packaging will be made from recycled materials. That was just one of the targets launched today by Defra and the UK dairy industry in a Milk Roadmap that aims to reduce the environmental impacts of producing and consuming liquid milk.

Yorkshire Heritage buildings at risk due to skills gaps
Published: 29/04/08
Two reports by the National Heritage Training Group (NHTG) launched today highlight serious skills and knowledge gaps affecting specialist workers and building professionals working in Yorkshire's built heritage sector.

Royal accolades for enterprising Yorkshire and Humber businesses...and individuals
Published: 21/04/08
The annual winners and recipients of The Queen's Awards for Enterprise were announced on 21 April, The Queen's birthday. They are the UK's most prestigious accolades for business-related achievement and a total of 139 business Awards and 11 individual Awards have been conferred this year.

Minister confirms funding for Yorkshire & Humber's four new deal for communities in 2008-09
Published: 10/04/08
Communities Minister Baroness Andrews yesterday announced that deprived communities across the country will benefit from over £200 million pounds in 2008-09. This money will be paid through established neighbourhood partnerships to help boost job opportunities, raise educational achievements and reduce levels of crime.

Regional Minister Rosie Winterton to address Yorkshire & The Humber Business Support Partnership
Published: 09/04/08
Rosie Winterton, Regional Minister for Yorkshire & The Humber, met with members of the newly formed Regional Business Support Partnership today to explore how the Business Support Simplification Programme (BSSP) can contribute to the upskilling the region's workforce.

£3,750,000 funding boost to help homeless people into jobs and training in Yorkshire & the Humber
Published: 25/03/08
A small business incubator in Leeds, a retail skills scheme in Grimsby, and warehousing skills schemes across the region are among five homelessness projects in Yorkshire & the Humber to have been awarded a provisional allocation of £3.75 million to upgrade facilities and create more training and employment opportunities for homeless people, Junior Housing Minister Iain Wright announced recently.

£168,000 announced to provide cycle training for 4,000 children across South Yorkshire
Published: 17/03/08
Transport Minister Rosie Winterton today (March 17) announced a £168,680 grant to provide cycle training for over 4,000 school children across South Yorkshire, part of a £3 million funding package that will provide training for over 80,000 children across the country by March 2009.

Regional Minister Rosie Winterton marks a decade of success for Bradford Youthbuild
Published: 17/03/08
Yorkshire & Humber Regional Minister Rosie Winterton was in Bradford today to help celebrate ten years of success for the ground-breaking YouthBuild project. And the Minister used a keynote address to urge public, voluntary and community sector partners to get more people - especially the young - into jobs.

Academy brings a 'fresh start' to farmers in East Yorkshire and North East Lincolnshire
Published: 11/03/08
The Wolds Fresh Start Academy for farmers launches at Bishop Burton College today (11 March). Fresh Start is a ground-breaking industry-led initiative supported by Defra to encourage new entrants into farming and help established farmers to diversify their businesses.

Bradford Social Enterprise selected to compete for £500,000 prize fund
Published: 10/03/08
A social enterprise from Bradford has been chosen to compete in the Spark competition, Junior Housing Minister Iain Wright announced today.

" An environment for a thriving Third Sector"- guidance published
Published: 10/03/08
The Office of the Third Sector has published a briefing note to provide Local Strategic Partnerships (local public, private and third sector representatives) with more information and guidance on National Indicator 7 – ‘An environment for a thriving third sector’.

£9 million flood road repair money announced for Sheffield
Published: 10/03/08
Transport Minister Rosie Winterton today confirmed £9 million to help communities in Sheffield affected by last summer's flooding. This is part of more than £23 million being provided to eight local authorities to repair roads and bridges damaged by the floods. It is an interim allocation to help councils meet their immediate needs.

£1.6 million for historic places of worship in Yorkshire and Humber
Published: 06/03/08
The crumbling fabric of the region's most historic places of worship is to be tackled with grants totalling £1.6m.

Have your say on cutting crime in Sheffield
Published: 04/03/08
Hundreds of community activists in Sheffield assembled today to share their ideas on tackling crime in the city, as the Government called for ordinary members of the public to have their say in a major review of crime and communities.

Small business survey shows steady progress in Yorkshire and the Humber
Published: 04/03/08
The most representative survey of the UK small business sector has revealed that nearly half of those questioned were producing new products and services, the highest level since the survey began in 2003.

Points system goes live -North East, Yorkshire and the Humber
Published: 29/02/08
Every business in the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber which employs workers from outside Europe must get a licence as part of massive changes to the UK's immigration system announced by the Government today.

Healey meets insurance companies to discuss progress of claims for Yorkshire and Humber flood victims
Published: 29/02/08
Floods Recovery Minister John Healey has met with representatives from the ABI (Association of British Insurers) and representatives of major insurance companies for a progress report on action being taken to get those still in temporary accommodation following last summer's floods back into their homes as quickly as possible.

£203m funding for Yorkshire and Humber housing market renewal areas announced
Published: 28/02/08
Ministers have announced today £203m funding to revitalise the housing market and restore stable communities in the Yorkshire and Humber region, as part of a £1bn national programme.

Council flood funding payments exceed £15million
Published: 25/02/08
Floods Recovery Minister John Healey today announced over £2.5million funding for six authorities across the country - including Scarborough - to help them get back on their feet following last summer's floods.

Minister leads Yorkshire and Humber businesses to Denmark
Published: 25/02/08
Over forty Yorkshire and Humber companies will accompany Lord Digby Jones, Minister of State for Trade and Investment on a trade and investment visit to Denmark from 28 to 29 February.

Prime Minister announces Yorkshire and Humber Youth Climate Change Champion
Published: 21/02/08
The nine young winners of the search for regional Climate Change Champions were announced by Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Minister for Climate Change Joan Ruddock yesterday.

Healey announces further funding for east riding flood-affected communities
Published: 19/02/08
Floods Recovery Minister John Healey today confirmed over £300,000 of funding to four authorities across the country, to help get communities back to normal following last summer's floods.

Hull to benefit from major European regeneration drive
Published: 19/02/08
Floods Recovery Minister John Healey MP, and European Commissioner for Regional Policy Danuta Hubner visited Hull on 15 February to see how the city will put to good use its share of £394m of European Regional Development Funding for the Yorkshire and Humber region.

Healey announces further compensation for flood-affected communities - Rotherham and North Lincolnshire share £500,000
Published: 12/02/08
Floods Recovery Minister John Healey today confirmed nearly £1.6million funding to six authorities across the country, to help get communities back to normal following last summer's floods.

All aboard as Government drives minimum wage campaign to South Yorkshire
Published: 08/02/08
Workers in Yorkshire and the Humber are to benefit from a new Government campaign to boost awareness of the national minimum wage (NMW) and help expose cases of underpayment.

Healey announces multi-million pound flood compensation package for Yorkshire & the Humber
Published: 05/02/08
Floods Recovery Minister John Healey today announced over £5 million floods compensation for local authorities in South Yorkshire and the Humber Region - some of the areas worst hit by last years floods.

Local partners wanted to help ensure Yorkshire & the Humber gets its share of £130million grassroots grants
Published: 31/01/08
Existing third sector funders in Yorkshire & the Humber are invited to apply to deliver the Grassroots Grants programme. Grassroots Grants is a new £130million government fund set up to ensure that small community-based third sector organisations have access to small grants. This means that small third sector groups will have access to grants for as little as £250 to help them take forward local action when and where it is needed.

Hull, East Riding and Doncaster get more funding to support flood-hit families in temporary accommodation
Published: 31/01/08
Floods Recovery Minister John Healey today announced that Hull, East Riding and Doncaster are among nine councils to receive a share of £1million to support the most vulnerable people in communities affected by last summer's floods.

Sustainable development in Yorkshire and The Humber
Published: 31/01/08
Figures detailing environmental, social and economic progress in Yorkshire and The Humber have been published today, covering a wide range of areas such as health, employment and the environment and shows real achievements across all regions .

More rail stations to be made accessible
Published: 31/01/08
Rail Minister, Tom Harris, today announced additional funding for upgrades to railway stations across England and Wales, to make rail travel more accessible for disabled and older people and parents with pushchairs.

Healey announces further flood compensation
Published: 31/01/08
Floods Recovery Minister John Healey yesterday confirmed more than £250,000 funding to six authorities in South Yorkshire and the Midlands, to help towards the clean-up costs following last summer's floods.

Yorkshire cricket legend Dickie Bird registers for new national free bus pass
Published: 30/01/08
Barnsley resident and legendary former test cricket umpire, Dickie Bird, has today welcomed the campaign to encourage people aged 60 or over and eligible disabled people in Yorkshire and The Humber to register for their new free bus pass. From 1st April 2008 the current bus concession covering free local off-peak bus travel within the local travel authority area will be extended to anywhere in England.

Deadline approaches for communities to make the most of local assets
Published: 30/01/08
The Government's drive to empower people by giving them the chance to run their own local services is entering a new phase as the latest round of applications for the Advancing Assets for Communities scheme closes.

Expert panel discusses plans for bus passenger champion
Published: 30/01/08
Plans to give bus passengers across England a more influential voice began to take shape as experts met yesterday.

North East Lincs agency wins national award for helping vulnerable people
Published: 29/01/08
A North East Lincolnshire organisation that help elderly and disabled people to make repairs and adaptations to their homes, has won a national award for the quality of their service. North East Lincolnshire Home Improvement Agency took the award at the annual Home Improvement Agency Awards held in Westminster.

How Women's Land Army veterans can get the recognition they deserve - Benn
Published: 28/01/08
Female war veterans from across Yorkshire and the Humber can from today (Monday 28th January) apply to have their efforts recognised as applications open for a new national badge of recognition.

Yorkshire & The Humber's new Regional Minister starts work
Published: 28/01/08
Transport Minister Rt Hon Rosie Winterton MP said she was delighted with her appointment as Regional Minister for Yorkshire & The Humber and pledged to play an active role in delivering economic success and social inclusion in the region.

Councils match Tesco.com for web hits
Published: 31/12/07
Local authority websites attract nearly as many hits as major retailer Tesco.com, following a recent award-winning publicity campaign 'Connect to Your Council'.

Local Authorities reduce chewing gum litter by two thirds through Government backed campaigns
Published: 31/12/07
Local authorities that have taken part in public awareness campaigns have cut chewing gum litter in their areas by an average of 58%, figures published today show.

Multi million PFI upgrade for Sheffield's streetlights
Published: 05/10/07
Sheffield's streets are set to benefit from £79.3million in Private Finance Initiative investment, Transport Minister Rosie Winterton announced yesterday.

Killer roads: Government campaign highlights hidden dangers of speeding on rural roads
Published: 03/10/07
You are three times more likely to be killed on a rural road than an urban one whilst in a car warns a Government educational campaign launched today. The Department for Transport's THINK! Rural Speed Campaign, warning drivers not to go faster than the conditions allow, can be heard on radio stations across Yorkshire and The Humber this month.

Andrews checks flood recovery of East Riding
Published: 09/08/07
Communities Minister, Baroness Andrews, today saw at first hand the recovery facing rural East Riding following the floods in June. The Minister toured the area to see how the £1.6 million Government aid is being spent to help those in the most urgent need get back on their feet.

New funding for victims of hate crime and homicide in Yorkshire and the Humber
Published: 06/08/07
Over £45,000 of Government funding has been awarded to groups across Yorkshire and the Humber who support victims of homophobia, racism and other forms of hate crime and the families and friends of victims of homicide.

New support for homeowners to get green grants
Published: 06/08/07
A new system to help homebuyers get green grants worth hundreds of pounds to lower their fuel bills and make their homes greener was announced on 1st August, linked to the introduction of Home Information Packs and Energy Performance Certificates.

TESA is Going Live in August!
Published: 06/07/07
TESA – the new European Regional Development Fund payment and programme management system – is going live to project-sponsors in Yorkshire and The Humber mid-September. A letter to all sponsors will be issued in early July informing you of these changes and who to contact for queries, including instructions to set you up on the system and how you can get trained up. You need to aware that the ERDF claims system will shut down on 13 August to prepare for TESA. This means we require all projects claiming ERDF up to the end of June to submit claims to us by the end of July to enable claims to be paid on the current system. Claims received after then will not be paid until mid-September. This applies to O1 and O2 programmes.

Harrogate accountants' views sought at online services workshop
Published: 04/07/07
A free workshop taking place in Harrogate on 24 July will give accountants a chance to have their say on HM Revenue & Customs' (HMRC) plans for its online services.

101 is 1 - Sheffield's 101 hotline celebrates 1st birthday
Published: 12/06/07
It is only 12 months old but already it has grown up to be a trusted friend and confidante to more than 60,000 residents of Sheffield. Today (12 June) the 101 non-emergency hotline will celebrate its first birthday with a special reception where those who take the calls can meet some of the people who have made them during the past year.

Search is on for unsung heroes in the fight against drug misuse in Bradford, Hull, Ryedale & Scarborough
Published: 12/06/07
Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker yesterday launched Tackling Drugs Changing Lives Awards 2007 at a football match with 2006 awards finalists, Dads Against Drugs (a Hull based) and Lambeth North Positive Futures Scheme.