Peter Robinson is happy to talk about his work as Northern Ireland finance minister. But Ian Paisley's resignation means he's going to have to face up to that succession question very soon, says Paul...
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...
John Swinney has achieved the impossible twice in his first nine months as Scotland's finance secretary. But can the former Scottish National Party leader score a much-needed hat trick? He talked...
The row over school selection in Northern Ireland is to be resolved at a meeting of Executive ministers, Finance Minister Peter Robinson has told Public Finance in an exclusive interview.
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...
Faced with a legal challenge, most local authorities automatically go to court. They should learn from the private sector, where cheaper and quicker alternative dispute resolution is growing in...
The Home Office's failure to have its accounts in good working order was 'inexcusable', its permanent secretary told a Treasury and CIPFA-hosted symposium on financial management in London on...
Thousands of unemployed people will have to prepare themselves for employment through training or work experience or risk losing the Jobseeker's Allowance, Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell...
More than a fifth of students are dropping out of university - the same proportion as five years ago, according to the Commons Public Accounts Committee.
There are neither enough funds nor 'hours in the day' to deliver government plans for all children to receive five hours of culture a week, teachers have warned.
France is struggling, like us, to cut back its public sector and devote more resources to the front line. But she would be wise to learn from the British experience before adopting our policies...
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...
