Council Leaders have until 20 December 2011 to inform the finance secretary whether their council agrees in principle to the full package on the terms set out.

BBC: Democracy Live site links

Benchmark interest rates inform those with capital whether to hire, finance start-ups or expand production.

FORBES: Why The Recession Recovery Remains Anemic

Someone should inform the White House that tax hikes on a shrinking group of smokers to finance payments to a growing number of beneficiaries is not a healthy fiscal strategy, as the states have found out by spending the proceeds of the Medicaid tobacco settlement.

WSJ: Review & Outlook: The President's Priorities