Welfare Reform on the Web (April 2003): Welfare State - UK

BROWN ARGUES HIS CASE FOR PRIVATE FUNDING

N. Timmins and J. Blitz

Financial Times, February 4^th 2003, p. 2

Gordon Brown yesterday set out limits to the use of markets in delivering public services, while arguing for greater use of the private finance initiative and a role for private healthcare providers in the National Health Service. He used his speech to the Social Market Foundation to set out his clearest definition to date of the role of markets in the public services.

(See also The Times, February 4^th 2003, p. 8; The Independent, February 4^th 2003, p. 2; The Daily Telegraph, February 4^th 2003, p. 1; The Guardian, February 4^th 2003, p. 1)

BROWN'S BLAIRITE CONVERSION

P. Maltby

Public Finance, Feb. 14^th-20^th 2003, p. 2

Reports a speech by Gordon Brown detailing why complex public services such as the NHS should remain publicly funded and largely publicly provided. This provision would be subject to contestability from charitable, private sector and not-for-profit public interest company providers.

EVALUATING PUBLIC MANAGEMENT REFORMS: PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE

G. A. Boyne and others

Buckingham: Open University Press, 2003

By developing a framework for theory-based evaluation of reforms and then using it, this book assesses the impact of new arrangements for public service delivery in the UK. It identifies:

• the conceptual and practical problems of finding clear criteria for evaluating reforms;
• focuses on the shifts in public management towards markets and competition;
• considers what impact these reforms have on the efficiency, responsiveness and equity of services;
• discusses the implications for public sector management.

LOCAL FOOD PROJECTS: THE NEW PHILANTHROPY?

E. Dowler and M. Caraher

Political Quarterly, vol. 74, 2003, p. 57-65

In the UK, the state is adopting the role of philanthropist and tackling food poverty on a piecemeal basis through encouragement of local food projects. These act as quick fixes and lead to improvements in physical and to a lesser extent, economic access to quality food, but do not address underlying structural problems.

TORIES WOULD SCRAP PUBLIC SERVICE TARGETS

C. Newman

Financial Times, February 12^th 2003, p. 4

The government's performance targets established by Gordon Brown would be scrapped by the Tories if they returned to power. Michael Howard, the Shadow Chancellor said the Conservatives would abolish performance targets set by the Treasury for spending departments.

WHERE THE THIRD WAY GOES FROM HERE

T. Blair

Progressive Politics vol.2 pt.1 p. 6-9

Argues in favour of charging users of health and education services, and introducing more "market-oriented incentives" into the public sector.