Monday 5th December 2011 | 15:41

In Brief

The Dods Coming Year in Parliament conference takes place today. Speakers include Commons leader Sir George Young, shadow Commons leader Angela Eagle and House Magazine editor and Labour MP Gisela Stuart. http://bit.ly/5iI7m8

Deputy prime minister Nick Clegg announces a £1bn boost to the Regional Growth Fund allocations on a visit to the North West. He is also set to announce an additional round of bidding opening in February 2012. http://bit.ly/sV5v9T

Health secretary Andrew Lansley speaks at the FT Global pharmaceutical & biotechnology conference. (13:00)

Business secretary Vince Cable will make an announcement on supporting manufacturing.

Culture secretary Jeremy Hunt, Mayor of London Boris Johnson and senior government ministers join more than 3000 key London 2012 staff as the second series of major Olympic test exercises begins in operations centres and games venues.

Road safety minister Mike Penning launches the Department for Transport's THINK! Christmas drink drive campaign. http://bit.ly/ujKlFJ

Home Office minister Lynne Featherstone is expected to respond to Sunita Mason's review of criminal records checks.

Sports minister Hugh Robertson sets out the latest quarterly Olympics report.

Culture minister Ed Vaizey delivers a speech at the Guardian Mobile Business Summit 2011. (11:00am)

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper will warn today that morale among officers is also at "rock bottom" as she launches an independent commission on the future of policing. The review will be led by former Met Commissioner Lord Stevens.

Labour MP Gisela Stuart and Institute for Government director Lord Adonis participate in a Progress debate on ‘Who knows best: Whitehall or town hall?’

Labour MP Tristram Hunt delivers the Speaker’s lecture on Tony Benn.

Labour MP Nic Dakin speaks at the launch of "Open to ideas: essays on education and skills", a joint National Skills Forum and Associate Parliamentary Skills Group meeting. http://bit.ly/uaqMmV

Labour MP Barry Sheerman, chair of the manufacturing APPG, attends the Dods Manufacturing Dialogue reception for parliamentarians, which will showcase the best of British manufacturing, from global business to local enterprise. http://bit.ly/soUStW (18:30)

Mayor of London Boris Johnson and popstar Peter Andre launch Team London 'Love Libraries', a scheme aimed at supporting more Londoners with reading. (10:15)

The UN climate change conference continues in Durban, South Africa.

London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games chair Seb Coe delivers a speech as part of the official London 2012 education programme.

Airbus is the latest organisation to launch its public affairs microsite on PoliticsHome. Airbus is a leading aircraft manufacturer with the most modern and comprehensive family of airliners on the market. http://t.co/udeECgH4

A poll of MPs, run by Dods for the Professional Bodies Dialogue, has highlighted opportunities for professional bodies to help make better policy.

Westminster Briefing hosts a major summit investigating the progress on the government's new Work Programme. http://bit.ly/uIAIhY

Demos hosts an event on patriotism in schools. (18:00)