Latest public sector news feed xmlEconomists are predicting a Budget of ‘masterly or not so masterly inactivity’ when Chancellor Alistair Darling puts his proposals to Parliament on March 24.http://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/03/budget-likely-to-do-little-more-than-tread-water-warns-ifs/Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:00:00 GMTThu, 11 Mar 2010 16:45:12 GMTThu, 11 Mar 2010 16:48:21 GMT110185The police regulator is to publish more data in an easily understood format online, in an effort to make its assessments more relevant to ordinary people.http://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/03/vpolice-watchdog-to-put-more-forces-information-online/Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:55:00 GMTThu, 11 Mar 2010 16:36:33 GMTThu, 11 Mar 2010 17:23:05 GMT110181Hopes of reaching a political consensus on elderly care funding before the election have been dashedhttp://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/03/social-care-talks-collapse-as-parties-fall-out/Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:34:00 GMTThu, 11 Mar 2010 16:32:45 GMTThu, 11 Mar 2010 18:51:32 GMT110180A Conservative government would delay implementation of plans to increase the finance powers of the Scottish Parliament until a full analysis had been carried out by the UK Treasury, Public Finance has been told. http://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/03/tories-would-delay-scottish-powers/Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:39:00 GMTThu, 11 Mar 2010 16:26:56 GMTThu, 11 Mar 2010 18:40:29 GMT110179Billions of pounds’ worth of spending targeted on reducing the health gap between the rich and the poor has led to only patchy improvement across England, the Audit Commission has found.http://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/03/funding-failing-to-reduce-health-inequality/Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:26:09 GMTThu, 11 Mar 2010 16:24:29 GMTThu, 11 Mar 2010 16:26:04 GMT110178Two further councils have put forward plans to build eco-towns, bringing the total of local authority bids to 11.http://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/03/two-more-bids-for-eco-towns/Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:21:54 GMTThu, 11 Mar 2010 16:19:57 GMTThu, 11 Mar 2010 16:21:45 GMT110176Olympic chiefs are unable to guarantee that the Games’ legacy will generate enough revenue to recoup hundreds of millions of pounds’ worth of additional investment from the National Lottery.http://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/03/lottery-might-not-recoup-its-olympic-funding/Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:14:17 GMTThu, 11 Mar 2010 16:11:48 GMTThu, 11 Mar 2010 16:14:10 GMT110175Government efforts to close the gap between England’s most deprived neighbourhoods and the rest of the country have been set back by the recession, a study has shown.http://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/03/recession-slowing-regeneration-efforts/Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:10:39 GMTThu, 11 Mar 2010 16:07:51 GMTThu, 11 Mar 2010 16:10:36 GMT110173Changes to the management of NHS waiting lists in Scotland have made the system fairer for patients but more needs to be done to ensure it works effectively, Audit Scotland has found.http://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/03/scots-nhs-makes-progress-in-waiting-list-changes/Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:57:07 GMTThu, 11 Mar 2010 15:52:07 GMTThu, 11 Mar 2010 15:57:00 GMT110169Council chiefs in Scotland have agreed to forgo a pay rise due this year.http://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/03/scots-council-chiefs-agree-to-pay-freeze/Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:31:00 GMTThu, 11 Mar 2010 16:05:16 GMTThu, 11 Mar 2010 18:33:00 GMT110172Welsh Assembly members have backed proposals to have their pay and expenses entitlements set by an independent boardhttp://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/03/ams-vote-for-independent-board-to-set-pay-and-expenses/Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:14:00 GMTWed, 10 Mar 2010 20:12:04 GMTWed, 10 Mar 2010 20:15:18 GMT110091The Home Office has been forced to ask Parliament for almost £80m in extra funds after failing to set aside enough to cover the possibility of losing a court case over police pensionshttp://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/03/home-office-asks-for-80m-to-cover-overspend/Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:31:00 GMTWed, 10 Mar 2010 17:30:13 GMTThu, 11 Mar 2010 17:42:20 GMT110079Efforts to regenerate former coalmining towns in England have had little effect despite a £1.1bn cost to the taxpayer, MPs have foundhttp://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/03/coalfields-regeneration-has-had-little-effect-say-mps/Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:01:00 GMTTue, 09 Mar 2010 17:55:52 GMTTue, 09 Mar 2010 17:58:29 GMT109942A company responsible for running a mental health hospital in Yorkshire has been fined thousands of pounds for breaching care standards in relation to medicationhttp://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/03/mental-health-care-provider-fined-for-standards-breaches/Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:12:00 GMTTue, 09 Mar 2010 18:10:34 GMTTue, 09 Mar 2010 18:13:17 GMT109943Financial reporting across government has come under fire in a report published today by MPshttp://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/03/treasury-committee-criticises-whitehall-finance-functions/Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:40:00 GMTTue, 09 Mar 2010 11:38:50 GMTTue, 09 Mar 2010 12:09:36 GMT109786Social housing tenants who sublet their properties should be prosecuted for fraud, a think-tank recommends todayhttp://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/03/social-housing-subletters-should-face-fraud-charges/Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:25:00 GMTTue, 09 Mar 2010 11:23:52 GMTTue, 09 Mar 2010 11:25:55 GMT109784A new Welsh efficiency drive will foster innovation and collaboration in areas where not enough is being done, the minister leading the scheme has told Public Financehttp://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/03/wales-efficiency-drive-will-focus-on-collaboration-says-hutt/Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:52:00 GMTMon, 08 Mar 2010 17:50:35 GMTMon, 08 Mar 2010 17:53:43 GMT109726Civil service workers have begun a 48-hour strike today in protest over proposed cuts to their redundancy termshttp://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/03/pcs-union-members-begin-strike/Mon, 08 Mar 2010 08:00:00 GMTFri, 05 Mar 2010 17:35:18 GMTFri, 05 Mar 2010 17:37:51 GMT109541The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is failing to meet its target to reduce the amount of harmful business waste sent to landfill sites, according to auditorshttp://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/03/defra-failing-to-meet-business-waste-expectations/Fri, 05 Mar 2010 13:15:00 GMTFri, 05 Mar 2010 13:03:32 GMTFri, 05 Mar 2010 14:20:00 GMT109504Whitehall departments are under-performing because ministers are not remaining in post long enough to see through their policies, two separate MPs’ reports have foundhttp://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/03/mps-criticise-frequency-of-ministerial-changes/Fri, 05 Mar 2010 10:30:00 GMTFri, 05 Mar 2010 10:28:36 GMTTue, 09 Mar 2010 17:51:01 GMT109471Adult care budgets are set to be slashed as councils strive to safeguard children’s social services in the wake of recent high-profile child protection failures, public spending experts have warned.http://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/03/councils-planning-savage-cuts-to-adult-care-spending/Thu, 04 Mar 2010 12:00:00 GMTThu, 04 Mar 2010 14:36:45 GMTThu, 04 Mar 2010 18:25:48 GMT109359Scotland’s first minister has warned the UK government that it must not impose further spending cuts on the country or it will seriously damage services and economic recovery.http://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/03/salmond-warns-westminster-against-cutting-scots-budget/Thu, 04 Mar 2010 11:55:00 GMTThu, 04 Mar 2010 14:40:48 GMTThu, 04 Mar 2010 14:43:42 GMT109360The UK Border Agency is capable of meeting government targets for processing asylum applications, its chief executive has insisted.http://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/03/border-agency-will-meet-its-targets-says-homer/Thu, 04 Mar 2010 11:50:00 GMTThu, 04 Mar 2010 14:53:23 GMTThu, 04 Mar 2010 14:56:24 GMT109365The ten projects set up to boost housing markets in the Midlands and North of England are making good progress in spite of the recession, the Audit Commission has found.http://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/03/housing-pathfinders-are-performing-well/Thu, 04 Mar 2010 11:45:00 GMTThu, 04 Mar 2010 14:57:38 GMTThu, 04 Mar 2010 15:00:01 GMT109368A senior MP has criticised both Labour and the Conservatives for not being honest about the damage that spending cuts will have on public services.http://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/03/parties-need-to-tell-truth-about-cuts-says-pasc-chair/Thu, 04 Mar 2010 11:45:00 GMTThu, 04 Mar 2010 15:02:31 GMTThu, 04 Mar 2010 15:10:17 GMT109369The troubled Equalities and Human Rights Commission has been slammed by MPs, just weeks after a parliamentary body referred its chair to the standards watchdog.http://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/03/commons-committee-attacks-equalities-body/Thu, 04 Mar 2010 10:00:00 GMTWed, 03 Mar 2010 20:33:54 GMTWed, 03 Mar 2010 20:42:51 GMT109246A Cabinet committee to encourage increased involvement of third sector bodies in public service provision has been established, Public Finance has been told. http://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/03/ministers-set-up-third-sector-group/Thu, 04 Mar 2010 09:00:00 GMTWed, 03 Mar 2010 20:25:52 GMTWed, 03 Mar 2010 20:31:48 GMT109245MPs have condemned the Ministry of Defence for wasting hundreds of millions of pounds every year through its equipment procurement programme.http://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/03/mod-wastes-millions-buying-equipment-say-mps/Thu, 04 Mar 2010 08:00:00 GMTWed, 03 Mar 2010 20:12:22 GMTWed, 03 Mar 2010 20:20:25 GMT109244Charities are declaring that their time has come, with Whitehall lauding their merits. But, although greater service provision could improve quality, it is unlikely to make savingshttp://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/03/third-sector-steps-up-service-provision-but-at-what-price/Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:16:00 GMTWed, 03 Mar 2010 17:12:31 GMTWed, 03 Mar 2010 17:17:06 GMT109231Conservative and Liberal Democrat policies to reduce the educational attainment gap between rich and poor pupils are unlikely to make much difference, experts have warnedhttp://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/03/pupil-premiums-will-not-bridge-the-educational-divide-says-ifs/Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:00:00 GMTWed, 03 Mar 2010 17:18:19 GMTWed, 03 Mar 2010 17:28:50 GMT109234A government ‘of any stripe’ should claw back recent benefit rises and restrict child benefits for better-off families to save £6.5bn, a Right-wing think-tank has urgedhttp://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/03/think-tank-identifies-65bn-benefit-savings/Wed, 03 Mar 2010 14:36:00 GMTWed, 03 Mar 2010 14:35:06 GMTWed, 03 Mar 2010 14:37:04 GMT109218MPs have criticised the lack of prison facilities in North Wales and called on the Ministry of Justice to adopt a more flexible approach to prisons policyhttp://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/03/north-wales-needs-a-prison-say-mps/Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:01:00 GMTWed, 03 Mar 2010 12:59:41 GMTWed, 03 Mar 2010 13:01:53 GMT109204The UK government is to press ahead with the introduction of new tax-raising powers for Scotlandhttp://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/03/experts-to-take-forward-scottish-tax-plans/Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:43:00 GMTTue, 02 Mar 2010 17:43:07 GMTTue, 02 Mar 2010 17:44:50 GMT109084Housing minister John Healey has withdrawn his opposition to London Mayor Boris Johnson’s plan to scrap affordable housing targetshttp://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/03/healey-wont-challenge-johnsons-housing-strategy/Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:47:00 GMTTue, 02 Mar 2010 11:46:16 GMTWed, 03 Mar 2010 17:29:47 GMT108993MPs have attacked the Department for Transport for its ‘inadequate’ contract management, which it said has resulted in losses of up to £410m for the taxpayerhttp://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/03/metronet-contract-has-lost-taxpayers-410m-says-pac/Tue, 02 Mar 2010 05:00:00 GMTMon, 01 Mar 2010 18:19:34 GMTMon, 01 Mar 2010 18:27:21 GMT108936The professionalism of finance across government is unlikely to be stalled by the looming spending cuts, Public Finance has learnthttp://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/03/whitehall-will-not-cut-accountancy-jobs/Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:31:00 GMTMon, 01 Mar 2010 16:26:27 GMTMon, 01 Mar 2010 18:02:17 GMT108915Public services in Scotland could be improved by transferring power from government to voluntary organisations, a leading think-tank has suggestedhttp://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/03/charities-should-provide-more-public-services-says-scottish-think-tank/Mon, 01 Mar 2010 14:26:00 GMTMon, 01 Mar 2010 14:24:17 GMTMon, 01 Mar 2010 14:27:10 GMT108892Local authorities in England will be able to collects fines of up to £25,000 a day from utility companies that allow roadworks to overrun, ministers have proposedhttp://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/03/councils-to-be-able-to-charge-25000-for-roadwork-overruns/Mon, 01 Mar 2010 07:00:00 GMTFri, 26 Feb 2010 17:50:19 GMTTue, 02 Mar 2010 12:09:45 GMT108781The UK Border agency is failing in its efforts to reach targets for processing asylum applications within six months because of the inadequate staffing levels, an independent report has concludedhttp://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/02/government-asylum-case-targets-are-unachievable/Fri, 26 Feb 2010 17:19:00 GMTFri, 26 Feb 2010 17:15:35 GMTFri, 26 Feb 2010 17:19:48 GMT108775The BBC has come under fire for overspending on new building projects by millions of poundshttp://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/02/bbc-infrastructure-spending-criticised-by-auditors/Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:39:00 GMTFri, 26 Feb 2010 15:25:18 GMTFri, 26 Feb 2010 15:40:12 GMT108756The 2012 Olympics are on time and within budget, but authorities need to make greater efforts to ensure the Games leave a beneficial legacy for Londoners, an official report has foundhttp://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/02/olympics-within-budget-says-nao/Fri, 26 Feb 2010 12:42:00 GMTFri, 26 Feb 2010 12:37:41 GMTFri, 26 Feb 2010 12:42:56 GMT108735Both Labour and the Conservatives have come under fire for not being honest about the damage that spending cuts will have on public serviceshttp://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/02/government-and-tories-cheating-the-electorate-says-pasc-chair/Fri, 26 Feb 2010 08:00:00 GMTThu, 25 Feb 2010 18:06:55 GMTThu, 25 Feb 2010 18:13:40 GMT108670Improvements in outpatient satisfaction in England, revealed in a study released today, will be sustainable even with the NHS spending squeeze, doctors’ leaders have saidhttp://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/02/hospital-cuts-will-not-affect-patient-satisfaction-say-doctors/Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:24:00 GMTThu, 25 Feb 2010 17:22:20 GMTThu, 25 Feb 2010 17:24:41 GMT108667Whitehall is stepping up its preparations for a hung Parliament as prospects mount that no party will win a majority in the general election, likely to be held on May 6http://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/02/civil-service-prepares-for-first-hung-parliament-since-1974/Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:26:00 GMTThu, 25 Feb 2010 15:23:36 GMTThu, 25 Feb 2010 15:35:07 GMT108638Local authorities in England and Wales are set to impose the lowest-ever council tax rise this year, according to CIPFA – although experts are warning of financial trouble aheadhttp://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/02/councils-to-set-record-low-tax-rise/Thu, 25 Feb 2010 12:51:00 GMTThu, 25 Feb 2010 12:49:24 GMTTue, 02 Mar 2010 09:46:39 GMT108618Local authorities facing losses following the collapse of the Icelandic banks are challenging the government’s ‘irrational’ decision to allow only some councils to spread their losseshttp://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/02/councils-furious-over-spreading-of-icelandic-losses/Thu, 25 Feb 2010 12:33:00 GMTMon, 22 Feb 2010 16:32:13 GMTThu, 04 Mar 2010 18:26:51 GMT108118The Staffordshire hospital trust that ‘failed to deliver’ acceptable standards of care should have its foundation status reviewed, an independent inquiry has said.http://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/02/failing-staffs-hospital-could-lose-its-foundation-status/Thu, 25 Feb 2010 02:00:00 GMTThu, 25 Feb 2010 14:17:52 GMTFri, 26 Feb 2010 17:09:47 GMT108626Talks aimed at building a consensus on adult social care reform are back on the table after all three main parties signalled they would attend a meeting convened by the charity Age Concern & Help the Aged.http://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/02/charity-brings-parties-back-to-the-care-table/Thu, 25 Feb 2010 01:50:00 GMTThu, 25 Feb 2010 14:37:05 GMTFri, 26 Feb 2010 17:05:51 GMT108632Hospital trusts fear they could lose 7% of their income because of changes to the NHS treatments tariff.http://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/02/trusts-fear-effects-of-nhs-tariff-changes/Thu, 25 Feb 2010 01:45:00 GMTThu, 25 Feb 2010 14:41:18 GMTThu, 25 Feb 2010 14:43:42 GMT108633Efforts to raise standards in schools have been undermined by too many Whitehall-led initiatives, according to the education watchdog.http://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/02/imposed-education-initiatives-ruin-standards-says-ofsted/Thu, 25 Feb 2010 01:40:00 GMTThu, 25 Feb 2010 14:45:56 GMTThu, 25 Feb 2010 14:48:25 GMT108634Public sector plans for savings in Scotland will not be enough to meet the serious financial challenges that lie ahead, the country’s spending watchdog has warned.http://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/02/scottish-efficiency-plans-are-not-enough-warns-audit-scotland/Wed, 24 Feb 2010 19:09:27 GMTWed, 24 Feb 2010 19:06:50 GMTWed, 24 Feb 2010 19:09:25 GMT108571Housing associations have emerged from the credit crunch in better condition than the wider economy but remain exposed to further fluctuations in the property market, a report published today concludeshttp://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/02/rsls-have-weathered-the-financial-storm/Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:05:00 GMTWed, 24 Feb 2010 16:00:57 GMTWed, 24 Feb 2010 16:15:46 GMT108527Proposals to give Scotland its own tax raising powers could leave it with a deficit of more than £1.2bn, leading academics have warnedhttp://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/02/scotland-could-face-12bn-black-hole-experts-warn/Wed, 24 Feb 2010 15:26:00 GMTWed, 24 Feb 2010 15:24:32 GMTWed, 24 Feb 2010 15:27:00 GMT108500Costs are ‘mounting alarmingly’ at the Child Maintenance Enforcement Commission, where defective IT systems have led many cases to be processed by hand, MPs warn in a report published todayhttp://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/02/child-maintenance-agency-costs-soar/Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:08:00 GMTWed, 24 Feb 2010 12:05:27 GMTWed, 24 Feb 2010 12:09:48 GMT108405A major programme to focus resources on Wales’ most deprived areas has come under renewed criticism for failing to demonstrate value for moneyhttp://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/02/communities-first-not-providing-value-for-money-say-ams/Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:00:00 GMTWed, 24 Feb 2010 11:58:52 GMTWed, 24 Feb 2010 12:02:46 GMT108401The Audit Commission has called on the government to allow councils more freedom after reviewing the results of its first round of Comprehensive Area Assessmentshttp://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/02/audit-commission-urges-greater-freedom-for-councils/Wed, 24 Feb 2010 01:01:00 GMTTue, 23 Feb 2010 18:45:16 GMTTue, 23 Feb 2010 18:50:41 GMT108323Conservative proposals to overhaul England’s planning system have been met with scepticism from housing groups, which claim the reforms could put affordable home development at riskhttp://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/02/tory-planning-changes-could-threaten-social-housing/Tue, 23 Feb 2010 12:52:00 GMTTue, 23 Feb 2010 12:49:50 GMTTue, 23 Feb 2010 12:52:23 GMT108246The financing of the £16bn Crossrail project is over-reliant on the contribution of the capital’s taxpayers, London Assembly members have claimedhttp://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/02/london-taxpayers-foot-unfair-bill-for-crossrail-says-assembly/Tue, 23 Feb 2010 11:23:00 GMTTue, 23 Feb 2010 11:22:01 GMTTue, 23 Feb 2010 11:23:56 GMT108206Public spending watchdog Audit Scotland is considering carrying out a detailed investigation into Scotland’s largest transport authority following a row over expenses and trips abroadhttp://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/02/auditors-consider-investigation-into-transport-authority-expenses-row/Tue, 23 Feb 2010 10:19:00 GMTTue, 23 Feb 2010 12:14:43 GMTTue, 23 Feb 2010 12:20:35 GMT108228Services run by local authority housing departments are continuing to improve with no evidence yet that rent arrears have risen during the recession, a study has shownhttp://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/02/council-housing-continues-improvement/Mon, 22 Feb 2010 15:50:00 GMTMon, 22 Feb 2010 17:48:01 GMTMon, 22 Feb 2010 17:56:26 GMT108132MPs are calling on the government to stop funding homeopathy, arguing that the treatments are unreliable and have no greater clinical use than placeboshttp://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/02/homeopathy-should-no-longer-be-funded/Mon, 22 Feb 2010 14:42:00 GMTMon, 22 Feb 2010 14:40:39 GMTMon, 22 Feb 2010 14:42:52 GMT108088The first reports from 13 pilot projects provide a wealth of data. One thing is clear: public services focus too much on symptoms and too little on causeshttp://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/02/ministers-mull-over-early-results-from-total-place/Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:44:00 GMTTue, 16 Feb 2010 16:39:01 GMTThu, 25 Feb 2010 18:20:28 GMT107359