News - Articles
If you have a question about any of the news you read here, you can contact us for more information.
Soap Box
The state needs to be smaller. This is the conclusion not of the coalition government, but of a cross-party group of politicians and experts on the RSA’s 2020 Public Services Trust, whose final report is out soon.
... read the full article
» Published here: The MJ
Meeting the place-based challenge
Bill Cooper of KPMG and Ben Lucas of the 2020 Public Services Trust warn that many councils are not yet fully prepared to take on the new responsibilities of place-based budgeting.
... read the full article» Published here: The MJ
The coalition's NHS reforms - far enough or a 'quick fix'?
The NHS was recently ranked as one of the most efficient and effective health systems in the world, so is radical reform an unnecessary risk? Dr Greg Parston looks into the matter.
... read the full article» Published here: Public Servant
A Budget for cuts but is it a Budget for reform?
Either public services need to be reformed or they don't. It makes no sense to exclude the most expensive service of all from this process, the NHS, writes Ben Lucas, director 2020 PST.
... read the full article» Published here: Public Servant
Seize the day
Ben Lucas talks spending cuts and suggests that now is the time to sieze the opportunity for structural reform with a long-term approach for a new post-Beveridge framework for public services.
... read the full article» Published here: Public Finance
The Blog
White Paper, Healthy Debate
The Commission’s health working group published Improving Health Outcomes earlier this month – written by myself and Dr Greg Parston, the group chair. The Monday following the report, Secretary of State Andrew Lansley announced his white paper, and the debate has shifted again. So how do the two match up? Well first of all , we ... more »
Equality and Cohesion in an Age of Austerity
Was the Budget fair? The Chancellor characterised his measures as ‘progressive’ in that the rich stand to lose more than the poor. But not everyone agrees. The IFS calls the claim ‘debateable’ http://www.ifs.org.uk/budgets/budgetjune2010/chote.pdf , largely because it leaves public services out of the equation. It is poorer households that tend to be the biggest public ... more »
A budget for cuts but is it a budget for reform?
This is a tough budget. It adds another £40bn to the already stringent consolidation planned by Labour. We won’t know its full impact for some time to come. The real test will be what happens to the economy and to jobs. If growth continues and gathers pace next year, then the Government will feel vindicated, ... more »
Posted in: Articles
0 comments | Add a comment |