News and expert comment on public policy and finance

News - June 2012

Scotland shakes up governance of post-16 educationA planned 'once in a generation' revamp of post-16 education in Scotland has won qualified cross-party support at Holyrood. 28 June 2012
Councils 'not prepared for new code of conduct'The Committee on Standards in Public Life has warned that many local authorities are not ready for the new standards regime that takes effect for councillors next week. 28 June 2012
Spending on health varies widely in UKThere are considerable variations in health spending, staffing and outcomes across the four nations of the UK, auditors said today. 29 June 2012
LGA presses on with local government bondA collective local government bond could be issued as early as 2014, the Local Government Association conference was told yesterday. 29 June 2012
Pickles wants to halt 'massive payouts' to redundant town hall chiefsCouncil chief executives made redundant as a result of shared services should not receive 'massive' pay-offs, Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles has said. 29 June 2012
We need more powers right now, says LGAWhitehall has been urged to devolve more powers to local government as soon as possible to give councils a greater role in economic development.  28 June 2012
Offa seeks evidence of best ways of attracting poorer studentsThe head of the Office for Fair Access has said the higher education watchdog needs evidence of which ways of encouraging poorer students to apply for and stay on at university are most successful. 28 June 2012
Councils face £16.5bn funding gap by 2020The growing costs of councils' care and statutory responsibilities will wipe out any funding for other services within eight years unless Whitehall provides urgent cash, the Local Government Association has warned. 27 June 2012
Skills Funding Agency breached IFRSThe Skills Funding Agency has had its accounts qualified for failing to include further education colleges' financial statements. 27 June 2012
Redmond calls for Merseyside mayorThere should be a mayor for the whole Merseyside area not just the city of Liverpool, according to the campaigner and TV producer Phil Redmond. 13 June 2012
Tenth consecutive fall in public sector jobsPublic sector employment in the UK fell by 39,000 in the first three months of 2012, the tenth consecutive quarterly drop, the Office for National Statistics revealed today. 20 June 2012
Housing Benefit 'should be devolved to councils'Councils should be given control of the Housing Benefit budget and use it to build new, affordable housing, the Institute for Public Policy Research has said. 21 June 2012
Poorest Welsh face Council Tax Benefit cutsWelsh people on low incomes are set to be £74 a year worse off following the government's localisation of Council Tax Benefit, the Institute for Fiscal Studies has found. 21 June 2012
Treasury consults on Scottish bonds powerChief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander has launched a consultation over whether Scotland should have the power to issue its own bonds. 22 June 2012
Accountancy and law latest to benefit from apprenticeship fundBusiness Secretary Vince Cable today launched 4,230 new 'Higher Apprenticeships' to fill skill gaps in sectors such as accountancy, the law and social care. 22 June 2012