The Inland Revenue plans to publish more internal guidance manuals so that taxpayers, their advisors and academics can see how staff are directed to go about their job. The Department is responding to the Government’s Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. The first internal manuals were published in 1995. 

Over 200 applications for Beacon Council status in the first round of the Beacon Council Scheme have been received by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. This is almost half of the councils in the UK. The number of applications is seen as an endorsement of the Scheme which has been under criticism from different quarters. Councils selected as Beacons will act as pace setters and centres of excellence.