Directly elected mayors were once ministerial flavour of the month but the policy was resoundingly rejected by voters. Now, even John Prescott has converted to the idea. David Harding reports
The three accountancy bodies involved in merger discussions have proposed a two-stage integration process following their council meetings in February.
Despite the government's insistence that all public sector organisations should introduce regional wage variations, 'very little concrete action has been taken', a new report on pay indicates.
Scottish patients have the UK's shortest waiting times for the diagnosis and treatment of coronary heart disease, according to the latest government statistics.
Nightmare neighbours who hold communities to ransom with threatening and intimidating behaviour are to be offered a last chance to change their ways before being evicted from their homes.
Welsh confidence has been dented. The young Assembly government was determined to be different and remodel the NHS around the principle of health promotion rather than the target-driven regime...
Discussions are continuing over a possible merger of three of the six main accounting institutes, although one of the bodies has asked for more work to be undertaken on the proposals.
Council leaders in Scotland have warned that the Executive's funding settlement for local government will not be enough to prevent substantial council tax rises over the next three years.
Chancellor Gordon Brown was accused this week of using accounting tricks to inflate his civil service relocation figures by including posts moved before Sir Michael Lyons' proposals for Whitehall...
Ministers must develop an effective strategy to deal with international prisoners after a new study showed record numbers are detained in UK jails, an influential pressure group has warned.
The 'bonfire of the quangos' in Wales is likely to weaken staff morale and could affect performance during the transition period, according to the chair of one of the bodies facing abolition.
Six towns have been named as growth areas in a wide-ranging blueprint for planning across Wales announced by Finance and Local Government Minister Sue Essex.
Scottish Finance Minister Tom McCabe has warned health service managers that performance must improve to justify the substantial increases in resources that have led to higher spending per head than...
The speeches, rallies and debates are over. Months of speculation have come to an end. There were shouts of jubilation and tears of despondency, but the people have spoken: there is to be no elected...
Whitehall's inadequate risk management and squandering of civil servants' vital commercial skills are hobbling government efforts to boost the value for money of public services, according to the...
Councils have been warned not to rush into court action over housing benefit arrears, after research suggested it could be more effective to refer problem tenants for independent debt advice.
