The next General Election will not see a big increase in the number of women MPs according to research published by the Electoral Reform Society. It has analysed lists of parliamentary candidates and says the political parties have not done enough to ensure an increase in the number of women in the Commons is even a possibility.

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Changes have been made in the way the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, will work in the regions. The measures were announced by the Culture Minister, Margaret Hodge, who said they would strengthen
engagement in regional policy through a simplified and improved way of working.

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This report from the Department for Health describes a national improvement in life expectancy over the past decade, but expresses concern that the health of the most disadvantaged has not improved as quickly as that of the better off. Inequalities in health persist and, in some cases, have widened. The geographical gap in life expectancy has risen for women in the last four years, but remained static for men.

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