By Vivienne Russell | 17 June 2014
Ethical standards should be incorporated into the contractual and monitoring arrangements for companies and charities delivering outsourced public services, the Committee on Standards in Public Life has said.
A report published by the committee today drew on Ipsos Mori research showing that the public feel the same standards should apply to providers of public services as well as commissioners.
But the research, which also took in the views of commissioners and providers, found that commissioners do not always articulate ethical standards to providers explicitly.
Committee chair Lord Bew said: ‘It is clear that the public want all providers of public services to adhere to an operate by common ethical standards, regardless of whether those providers come from the private, public or voluntary sectors. For the public “how” things are done is as important as “what is done”.
‘Ethics matter. This is increasingly recognised by the business community as a necessary part of winning trust and building confidence in the public service markets. Ethical standards should not be taken for granted and they have not been taken seriously enough to date. These risks are recognised by some commissioners and providers but they are rarely addressed explicitly.’
Jim Bligh, head of public services at the CBI, agreed there needed to be standards of conduct appropriate to organisations funded by and working for taxpayers.
‘The committee’s investigation is a welcome, up-to-date assessment of what the public expect from their public services, which the CBI is delighted to support,’ he said.
