John Swinney has insisted that the Scottish government's local income tax plans are 'robust' and can be delivered, despite the flood of criticism that greeted the publication of his consultation...
The government has come under fire from the influential UK Drug Policy Commission for 'seriously weak' or non-existent evidence to back up its strategy on reducing drug-related crime.
The government is to give a £6m boost to volunteer training as part of its response to recommendations from the Commission on the Future of Volunteering.
Benefits reform is back centre stage, with new get-tough policies for a part-privatised jobs service. The welfare czar talks to Judy Hirst about breaking the dependency habit
Next week's statement will be a severe test for the chancellor. There's a squeeze on spending and no appetite for tax rises, so what are Alistair Darling's options? PF convened a round table of...
An economic downturn is coming, that much almost everyone is agreed on. But its depth, width and length are still uncertain. As the Budget looms, Priyen Patel looks at the options
The NHS is approaching 60 and as deficits turn into surpluses it's not looking bad for its age. But now everyone is anticipating the health minister's final report, and asking how much his...
Social care will continue to deteriorate unless the government urgently reviews its spending plans and radically overhauls the system, campaigners have warned.
The new GPs' contract introduced in 2004 has cost £1.76bn more than the Department of Health planned and led to GP partners' income soaring by 58% over three years.
Monitor has issued a 'hands-off' warning to the Department of Health and told NHS foundation trusts they must rethink their relationships with their strategic health authorities.
Three-year spending plans that happen every two years; greater accountability promises that actually sideline Parliament Comprehensive Spending Reviews are looking more like science fiction than a...
The credit crunch scored a first this week, the nationalisation of a bank. But behind the scenes it is also having a serious impact on public sector pension schemes and proposed PFI projects. Paul...
The government must provide greater long-term mental health care for armed forces veterans and families, the Commons defence select committee has urged.
The 1997 Single Status Agreement was supposed to end unequal pay in local government. But a decade on, women are still underpaid, thousands of cases are clogged up in tribunals and workers are on the...
Despite receiving real-terms funding increases, the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills is busy making value-for-money savings, with science and second-chance students among the losers...
The Healthcare Commission is to carry out a nationwide study of mental health units for older people after finding that nurses in these wards were more likely to be attacked than those treating...
Scotland's largest local authority is to shed more than 400 posts following its decision to freeze council tax in line with the policy of the Scottish government.
