The Public Sector week

Hammersmith & Fulham head of comms Simon Jones has called for London councils to start Twittering to 'ensure a more joined-up approach in getting our message out'. Jones said: 'More than ever before we need to share knowledge, ideas and best practice in "real time" rather than relying on occasional networking events alone.'

The Cabinet Office's first list of ministerial interests shows two of Gordon Brown's brothers are in PR - one is head of corporate comms at EDF Energy and the other is an independent consultant. In addition, international development secretary Douglas Alexander's wife runs her own comms consultancy, while Labour MP Steve McCabe's partner, Fiona Gordon, has a comms business called Gordon and Badley Communications.

Oxfordshire County Council has appointed James Clark as its new director of comms, marketing and public affairs. Clark joins in May from BearingPoint, where he is director of comms and government relations. Clark was formerly head of news at the MoD, and has been a staff reporter, home affairs and defence correspondent variously at The Sunday Times and Daily Mail.

The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) has reported that the It's Your Call campaign has reached more than 50,000 people to ensure workers and employers know their national minimum wage rights and responsibilities. The campaign was launched by Business Secretary Lord Mandelson in Downing Street in November and staged roadshows in 27 towns and cities across the UK.

UK Trade and Investment marketing group MD Danny Lopez has suggested the Government should appoint a secretary of state for branding. Speaking at the Cities Conference, Lopez said such a politician would help to shape the brands of the UK's many cities: 'It makes you wonder if in future, cities or countries will hire one person to be in charge of the brand.'