Gordon Brown announces changes to Government

Gordon Brown has announced a series of changes to the Government's organisation and structure.

In a written statement to Parliament, the Prime Minister said that the changes would "sharpen the focus of central Government" on the "new and very different challenges" that Britain will " target="_blank"> face.

With a declared focus on families and young people, Mr Brown announced the formation of a new Department for Children, Schools and Families. The Department will be expected to coordinate work across Government relevant to youth and family policy while also taking specific responsibility for pre-19 education from the Department for Education and Skills.

Other responsibilities will include input into the Government's strategy for ending child poverty, with the Department of Work and Pensions, and into promoting the health of all children by working with the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.

Turning to the "significant new opportunities" arising from economic globalisation, the Prime Minister announced the creation of a Business Council for Britain.

The Council will be made up of senior figures from the business community and will report to the Government and Parliament on Britain's progress in improving its economic and business environment.

Closely aligned to this work will be a new Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (DBERR). This Department will take the lead in "creating the conditions for business success" and promoting "productivity and enterprise" across Government and within the EU.

It will also take joint responsibility with the Department for International Development on trade policy and with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on trade promotion.

There will also be a new Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) aimed at expanding high-end graduate skills and raising the skills of the wider adult workforce.

The Department will take responsibility from the Department of Trade and Industry for making Britain "one of the best places in the world for science, research and innovation". It will also be responsible for the "development, funding and and performance" of higher and further education.

The Department for Education and Skills, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Deputy Prime Minister's Office will be disbanded, the statement confirmed.

ENDS

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