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Government unveils BERR and DIUS merger
A new government department has been established following the merger of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) and the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS).
Lord Mandelson has been confirmed as the minister in charge of the new Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), which has been set up in order to develop Britain's economy and ability to compete on a global scale. It is also hoped that the decision to merge the two departments will place further education closer to the government's attempts to fight off the current recession and to lay foundations for economic recovery.
Mandelson said: "Our purpose is to help the government bring the country out of recession and build up our economic strengths and competitiveness - I and my ministerial team are resolutely focussed on this task. "The government needs to provide active and urgent help to business and employees. Bringing together the strengths and capabilities of the two former departments will enable us to do that more effectively, ensuring British business can compete successfully in the future world economy."