http://www.teletext.co.uk/news/politics/default.aspxen-gbMon, 8 Sep 2008 14:51:54 GMThttp://www.teletext.co.uk/images/Logo64x64.gifhttp://www.teletext.co.ukThe Government has unveiled a new strategy for manufacturing, bringing together &#163;150m of support for firms.<img src="http://feeds.teletext.co.uk/~r/News/politics/~4/386560942" height="1" width="1"/>
Ministers said they wanted to help manufacturers get through "demanding times" but added there were reasons to be confident about the future.

Business Secretary John Hutton said the UK could be a world leader in "green" technologies supporting thousands of so-called "green collar" jobs.

]]>b4736f45417088d3c3cbd26d9848da2bhttp://feeds.teletext.co.uk/~r/News/politics/~3/386560942/150m+for+manufacturing.aspxhttp://www.teletext.co.uk/news/politics/b4736f45417088d3c3cbd26d9848da2b/150m+for+manufacturing.aspxhttp://www.teletext.co.uk/news/politics/b4736f45417088d3c3cbd26d9848da2b/150m+for+manufacturing.aspxThe Government has increased taxes designed to discourage polluting behaviour by 9.1% over the past year to &#163;29.24bn, according to research.<img src="http://feeds.teletext.co.uk/~r/News/politics/~4/386209955" height="1" width="1"/>
But just £607m was paid back to taxpayers in incentives to go green, accountancy firm UHY Hacker Young said.

The group said its survey of businesses showed 91% think ministers are using money raised through green taxes to plug shortfalls in the public finances.

]]>561b9c83c63d472a7f03601122ee1d74http://feeds.teletext.co.uk/~r/News/politics/~3/386209955/Green+taxes+'increasing'.aspxhttp://www.teletext.co.uk/news/politics/561b9c83c63d472a7f03601122ee1d74/Green+taxes+'increasing'.aspxhttp://www.teletext.co.uk/news/politics/561b9c83c63d472a7f03601122ee1d74/Green+taxes+'increasing'.aspxAbout 50,000 low-income families across England are to be offered &#163;205 a week to pay for childcare so parents can get training to help them back to work.<img src="http://feeds.teletext.co.uk/~r/News/politics/~4/386725504" height="1" width="1"/>
The £75m programme will be available to couples where one parent works and the other wants to learn skills which will help them in their search for a job.

Families will receive help from the Learning and Skills Council to identify appropriate training courses.

]]>d10f6c2ff4a06275e805188db2ba218dhttp://feeds.teletext.co.uk/~r/News/politics/~3/386725504/Childcare+boost+for+families.aspxhttp://www.teletext.co.uk/news/politics/d10f6c2ff4a06275e805188db2ba218d/Childcare+boost+for+families.aspxhttp://www.teletext.co.uk/news/politics/d10f6c2ff4a06275e805188db2ba218d/Childcare+boost+for+families.aspxBritain should have "special status" in the EU to allow it to opt out of moves towards closer integration, the author of the failed EU Constitution said.<img src="http://feeds.teletext.co.uk/~r/News/politics/~4/386633333" height="1" width="1"/>
Former French president Valery Giscard d'Estaing argued that integration could continue provided the UK was not "party to progress it deems incompatible".

But he criticised the "permanently antagonistic standpoint" from which many negotiations had been carried out.

]]>01bb07c81e0d20f5375c0a503ef7bac4http://feeds.teletext.co.uk/~r/News/politics/~3/386633333/'Special+status'+for+Britain.aspxhttp://www.teletext.co.uk/news/politics/01bb07c81e0d20f5375c0a503ef7bac4/'Special+status'+for+Britain.aspxhttp://www.teletext.co.uk/news/politics/01bb07c81e0d20f5375c0a503ef7bac4/'Special+status'+for+Britain.aspxEqualities minister Harriet Harman has beefed up the body which advises the Government on women&#39;s issues by appointing 10 new members.<img src="http://feeds.teletext.co.uk/~r/News/politics/~4/386378971" height="1" width="1"/>
The new members of the Women's National Commission include writer Bea Campbell and pensions expert Helen Jackson.

The appointment of 10 new commissioners brings membership up to 15, and the commission will also enjoy an increase in funding from £330,000 to £434,000.

]]>a6283145388b5760beabd1c5b2e8478fhttp://feeds.teletext.co.uk/~r/News/politics/~3/386378971/New+members+for+women's+body.aspxhttp://www.teletext.co.uk/news/politics/a6283145388b5760beabd1c5b2e8478f/New+members+for+women's+body.aspxhttp://www.teletext.co.uk/news/politics/a6283145388b5760beabd1c5b2e8478f/New+members+for+women's+body.aspx