Scottish Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm has pledged that he will delay any new hospital closures until a national review group produces a health plan next March.
Local government's pension scheme moved up the political agenda this week when Britain's biggest union, Unison, threatened to strike over changes to retirement plans.
The public thinks more choice in public services is important. But the majority of people are not willing to pay more to get it, and they consider that it is needed in some services more than others.
Scotland's permanent secretary has called on the Civil Service Commission to investigate the role of civil servants criticised in the Fraser report on the Holyrood Parliament.
Ministers have launched a drive to tackle joblessness and social exclusion in the same week that a £100m fund was announced to boost the economies of northern English regions.
The safety of rail travel continues to improve, with no passengers killed in collisions or derailments in 2003/04, according to the annual report from the Health & Safety Executive.
A new tier of 'super-teachers' benefiting from financial incentives and specialist training should be created to teach at the most challenging schools, according to an influential committee of MPs.
The Scottish Executive is to strengthen its procurement and project management processes in the wake of the Holyrood inquiry report, Finance Minister Andy Kerr said this week.
Liberal Democrats have distanced themselves from proposals they fear could lead to a more market-driven approach in the key campaigning areas of health and education.
The Treasury has no intention of forcing contractors that sell off holdings in Private Finance Initiative projects to share any profits with public sector clients, one of its top mandarins has said.
Students will not apply for university places until they know their A-level results under proposed radical changes to higher education access backed by the government.
London council leaders are calling for a more regional analysis of patterns of poverty to ensure that the government resources intended to tackle its accompanying problems are properly targeted.
Scottish Water remains less efficient than the privatised companies in England and Wales, despite progress over the past two years, MSPs have been told.
Nick Raynsford has warned councils that the government is expecting even lower council tax rises next year and will not hesitate to cap those that refuse to comply.
Public service managers were this week challenged to put children's needs at the centre of their planning as the government published its blueprint for child-centred health and social care.
As councils prepare for ministerial pronouncements on the implementation of the Gershon agenda, Unison, Britain's biggest union, has expressed fears that the target of £6.5bn of savings by 2008 could...
Prime Minister Tony Blair's harmonious relations with Britain's unions disintegrated within hours of his speech to the Trades Union Congress in Brighton, when the leaders of 11 public sector unions...