BRITAIN:British prime minister Gordon Brown will seek to regain the political initiative next week by returning to one of his favourite themes, the need for ambitious welfare reform to equip the unemployed for the jobs market.
On Monday the prime minister will attend an event with his new work and pensions secretary, James Purnell, and skills secretary, John Denham.
Mr Purnell will later make a statement to the Commons on employment policy drafted for his predecessor, Peter Hain.
Mr Purnell was formerly secretary for arts and culture; his place has been taken by Andy Burnham, who had been chief secretary to the treasury.
Mr Burnham has been replaced by Yvette Cooper, making her and her husband, schools secretary Ed Balls, the first husband and wife team in the cabinet.
"The most important thing people should know is we are getting on with the business of government," Mr Brown said yesterday at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
His efforts to return to setting the policy agenda on the NHS, nuclear power and counterterrorism have been stymied by the drawn-out resignation of Mr Hain and delays in finding a solution to Northern Rock.
Mr Brown denied he had dithered by failing to sack Mr Hain over his late declaration of donations of more than £100,00 to his campaign for deputy leadership of the Labour party.