Latest Public Sector News

Harlow modernisation for 4,500 homes

23.05.13: A £22m programme has been launched to modernise council homes in Harlow. The council will upgrade over 4,500 homes between June 2013 and March 2014 as part of a larger, five-year £100m housing investment project. Internal improv... more >

Million+ calls for lower tuition fees

23.05.13: Limiting tuition fees to £6,000 per year could be achieved whilst remaining cost neutral to universities and the Treasury, the Million+ group of universities has proposed. The group commissioned a study by London Economics, which foun... more >

Human rights guidance published for councils

23.05.13: New guidance has been launched to help local authorities understand their human rights obligations when commissioning and procuring home care for older people. The Equality and Human Rights Commission has published the guidance, which highl... more >

Austerity a ‘drag’ on economy – IMF

22.05.13: The UK economy is still a long way from “a strong and sustainable recovery”, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned. Austerity measures could be offset by more infrastructure spending, it suggested. Speaking at a... more >

School funding not linked to performance – Reform

22.05.13: The Government should lift the ringfencing of the schools budget, the think tank Reform has argued. There is no link between higher spending and quality of teaching, or pupil achievement, its new research suggests. The report, 'Must Do Bett... more >

PSN ‘genuine enabler’ for collaboration

21.05.13: The Public Services Network (PSN) could help deliver collaboration and service transformation to meet increasing demand for services in the public sector, the industry association for PSN suppliers, PSNGB, has argued. A survey of 25 senior... more >

Gay marriage ‘wrecking amendment’ rejected by MPs

21.05.13: The legislation to introduce same-sex marriage survived backbench Tory opposition last night and will receive its third and final reading in the House of Commons later today. A “wrecking” amendment to extend civil partnerships t... more >

Work Programme ‘not reaching most disadvantaged’ – MPs

21.05.13: The Welfare to Work programme may still be failing people in most difficult circumstances, MPs on the Work and Pensions Committee have found. Their report highlights evidence of ‘parking’ – where those most difficult to ge... more >

Big rise in complaints to Home Office, DWP and MoJ

20.05.13: New data published by the Parliamentary Ombudsman highlights the variation in complaints to different Government departments. The move aims to encourage public sector organisations to use complaints to improve the services they offer. The r... more >

Ipsa may recommend salary increase for MPs

20.05.13: MPs could receive a £10,000 pay rise, if reports suggesting that the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) thinks that salaries are lagging behind civil service pay are true. The current salary for MPs is £65,738... more >

New standards published to improve legislation

20.05.13: The Government must comply with new standards for good legislation, the House of Commons Political and Constitutional Reform Committee has urged. The committee considered criticisms of the quality and quantity of legislation, and has publis... more >

Gay marriage ‘wrecking’ amendment could cost £4bn

20.05.13: Amendments to the Gay Marriage Bill could delay its introduction by 18-24 months and cost the taxpayer an extra £4bn, Downing Street has warned. Tory opponents are widely seen to be seeking to wreck the Bill through an amendment to gr... more >

Renewable subsidies harming green growth – Civitas

17.05.13: Green energy projects to meet EU directives by 2020 will cost every home £600 a year, Civitas has warned. A new paper, Are Green Times Just Around the Corner? Criticises “unprofitable renewables” and warns that subsidies are di... more >

IPCC investigation made ‘fundamental errors’

17.05.13: The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has been criticised for making “fundamental errors” and for clearing police officers of any blame for the death of a man in custody. A review by criminologist Dr Sylvia Casale... more >

A single fire service for England? – Knight review

17.05.13: The fire and rescue service must be “transformed”, a Government-commissioned review has urged. Sir Ken Knight, who has had a 40-year career in firefighting, including as a chief fire officer, found that significant change must be mad... more >