Books not Asbos are being used by a pioneering Edinburgh community library to challenge young people's antisocial behaviour and transform lives. Judy Hirst met the staff at Sighthill, who are...
Former chief financial officer at North East Lincolnshire Council Andrew Ecelson has been expelled from CIPFA. The disciplinary committee found Ecelson guilty of misconduct and breach of...
Bed blocking has increased dramatically in more than 10% of England's local authorities with social service responsibilities, figures seen by Public Finance reveal.
Introducing a market into local health provision can in theory increase user 'choice'. But in practice the most likely result is that a few giant firms will end up running all the services in ever-...
New transport chief Douglas Alexander might imagine he has inherited a successful rail sector. But Christian Wolmar predicts a host of problems further down the track
As all the parties compete for a fresh image, the LibDems have taken a lead by appointing England's youngest MP as a top Treasury spokeswoman. Vivienne Russell talked to her
Rising rates of middle-age obesity, diabetes and cancers are often portrayed as a huge drain on the NHS, but a study out this week shows that the 50-something English are healthier than their US...
Ministers have admitted that housing associations were given out-of-date information when they calculated efficiency gains as part of the Gershon review.
The Commons' Public Accounts Committee this week warned that taxpayers' money could still be called on to plug financial gaps in the construction of the prestigious Channel Tunnel Rail Link because...
Civil servants this week threatened to bring every Whitehall department to a standstill as opposition to the government's efficiency programme and job cuts intensified.
A catalogue of central government failures strengthens the case for devolving more powers to local government. So why despite decades of official rhetoric and numerous inquiries is Whitehall so...
Local government is finally getting the attention it deserves, with its white paper and inquiry both due this year. But will anything change? Public Finance invited Sir Michael Lyons and a round...
The past four decades have produced major technological, medical and engineering advances but have failed dismally to reform local government finance. Sarah Wood says this time there must be change...
The Commons Treasury select committee has called on the government to consider raising air passenger duty to enhance its efforts to meet environmental targets.
CIPFA has urged the UK's Department for International Development to promote a new international reporting standard to minimise the multiple reporting burdens placed on poor countries.
Two departments involved in a tax credits fraud came under fire this week after civil servants claimed that Whitehall managers should not have kept some personal details stolen by criminals.
The structure of local government, as well as how it is run and financed are all under scrutiny. This offers the perfect opportunity to explore lasting reforms after years of tinkering, argue Frank...
As the axe falls on thousands of frontline NHS posts, the government faces a huge row over the impact on clinical care. Seamus Ward visits a health trust about to shed 1,200 posts and hears both...
Ministers should explore new ways of using individuals' assets, such as housing and other inheritances, to help fund future welfare reforms, a leading think-tank has claimed.
NHS organisations reporting deficits in their final accounts for 2005/06 will be penalised by a sum equivalent to 110% of their overspend, Public Finance has learnt.
