Political acceptability will dictate Sir Michael Lyons' proposals to reform local government finance when he concludes his inquiry later this year, he has told Public Finance
The Treasury is to launch a root-and-branch review of procurement throughout the public sector, amid ministers' mounting frustration that many organisations are still not using their buying power to...
Most of the savings NHS acute trusts have made in reducing their spending on nursing agencies have been offset by increased use of the in-house NHS Professionals agency and their own nursing 'banks...
The PFI faces a combined attack from national statisticians and influential accountancy bodies. There is a lot at stake, including the chancellor's fiscal rules, reports Don Smith
The tangle of performance indicators and reporting requirements that are throttling local government will be swept away following a wide-ranging review being set up to slash red tape in the sector,...
Scotland would lose many of the benefits of economic and financial integration with the rest of the UK if the Holyrood Parliament had powers to raise and spend its own taxes, the authors of a report...
For many young vulnerable people, the statutory sector closes its door on them the moment they hit 18. But thanks to new social inclusion projects, this is changing. Nicola Pauling reports
The government is on a new charm offensive with the voluntary sector. But will all the reviews and initiatives allay charities' suspicions that ministers are looking for public services on the cheap...
For the Labour government, charity began and ended at home. Or the Home Office, at least, where its charitable and voluntary sector policy largely gathered dust after 1997.
There is a lull in Westminster, as if everything is waiting for the next PM. For many in the public sector, this represents a welcome rest from a breakneck whirl of reform but not for local...
England's core cities are poised to receive new powers mirroring those already enjoyed by London's mayor in the drive to reinvigorate 'democratic decision-making', Ruth Kelly has indicated.
The National Audit Office has denied accusations that it was unduly pressured by the Department of Health into producing a positive report on its £12.4bn procurement of a national IT programme for...
Prime Minister Tony Blair this week initiated a crucial phase of his third-term public services reforms a wide-ranging review of private and voluntary sector capabilities across health, social care...
Local government reformer Sir Michael Lyons wants more choice at a local level. But, as George Jones and John Stewart argue, it's a controlling central government culture that needs to change
Connecting for Health the NHS's huge National Programme for IT has been dogged by 'scope creep' and core 'spine' problems. But as its chief, Richard Granger, tells PF , plenty has gone right,...
From protecting care home standards to saving people from torture, the Human Rights Act touches on all aspects of public life. Yet it is under fierce attack. Nick Pearce examines why
Broxtowe is one of more than 100 councils that have rejected the government's three funding options for meeting the decent homes standard. Next week sees the official launch of their own...
Local Government Secretary Ruth Kelly this week delayed the sector's white paper until the autumn, allowing for a more radical assessment of plans to devolve powers to cities and town halls.
Scotland's deputy auditor general is renowned as a cool, strategic thinker, a quality she will bring to CIPFA as the institute's new president. Mike Thatcher reports
As the Gershon enforcer, John Oughton is the man charged with ensuring £21.5bn in efficiency savings roll in. So how is the public sector doing on its great mission, asks Joseph McHugh
The Treasury this week stood firm over its decision to administer tax credits from the Revenue and Customs department, despite claims that the system is 'in crisis' and should be moved to the...
Core Whitehall departments struggled to match the performance of other central government bodies in getting to grips with the Freedom of Information Act, according to recent figures.
