Pensioners in some of England’s poorest rural areas will be given extra encouragement to take up benefits and allowances through a new one and a quarter million pound fund launched by the Rural Affairs minister Alun Michael. The money will be available over the next two years for a range of organisations.The fund is being launched jointly with the Department for Work and Pensions, whose Partnership Fund tackles social exclusion nationally among older people. 

A report has been published calling for extensive powers for the new regional assemblies that may be created in parts of England following referendums due to be staged in the autumn. 

This strategy document confirms the Government’s commitment to involving the voluntary and community sector (VCS) in the delivery of public services both at national and local level, and recognises the unique contribution that the Sector can make towards achieving shared goals. The target is to increase volunteering and the VCS contribution to delivering public services by 5% by 2006. Connexions is the government’s support service for all young people aged 13 to 19.