Policy Announcements, Monday 26 February

Government  

• Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Alistair Darling, has today asked Ofcom to conduct an initial investigation into British Sky Broadcasting Group's acquisition of a 17.9% stake in ITV plc. This means Ofcom must provide advice to him by 27 April on whether the case raises public interest concerns about the number of different owners of media enterprises.  
• A fundamental overhaul of driver training and testing was confirmed by Road Safety Minister Dr Stephen Ladyman at the RoSPA Road Safety Congress this afternoon. For the first time, new parameters for educating young people about safe driving skills were set out, with a consultation expected later in the year.  
• The Liberal Democrats raised almost as much cash as Labour in the final three months of last year, according to the latest figures. As Labour struggles to bring its borrowing under control, the party received donations worth £2.6m in the fourth quarter of 2006. That was down on both the £3.2m raised in the previous quarter of 2006 and the £3m raised in the final quarter of 2005. The figures suggest the ongoing cash-for-honours investigation has hit Labour's fundraising efforts, particularly among private donors. The Lib Dems, meanwhile, raised £2.3m, while both parties lagged behind the Conservative Party, which raised almost £5.3m.  
• Supporters of a fully elected House of Lords have been stepping up their campaign ahead of next week's Commons vote on reform of the second chamber. Those championing the cause were holding a 'rally for a democratic House of Lords' in Parliament. The event was being chaired by Labour MP Chris Bryant with cross-party speakers including former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy, Conservative MP John Bercow and Labour's Angela Eagle. MPs will vote next Wednesday on a series of options ranging from abolition of the Lords, retaining the status quo and a 100 per cent elected upper house. They will also get the chance to choose from a variety of hybrid options under which elected members mix with life peers.  

Liberal Democrats  

• The number of prisoners earning money from prison work should be trebled by the end of the decade, according to Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg. He proposes putting 20 per cent of their earnings into a victim compensation fund, and paying another proportion to offenders two years after their release. This would, Clegg said, encourage them to "remain straight". Prisoners earn an average of £8 an hour for work such as cleaning, which are generally used for things like toiletries or tobacco.  
• The Liberal Democrats have today stepped up pressure on the Government to convene a Select Committee in both Houses of Parliament to discuss the recommendations of the Casino Advisory Panel, including the decision to award a super-casino to Manchester.

Conservatives  

• Ministers will be challenged to justify their handling of the Royal Navy amid growing doubts about Britain's future as a major maritime power. The Conservatives are planning to use a parliamentary debate to raise questions about Labour's commitment to the navy as critical spending decisions approach.