Mike Hancock News
Public Services White Paper Briefing
15 July 2011
- High-quality public services are the right of everyone. This paper sets out how the Government will improve public services. By putting choice and control in the hands of individuals and neighbourhoods, public services will become more responsive to peoples' needs
- In today's world, we have choice at our fingertips - at home, at work and on the move. At their best, our public services fit into these choices seamlessly - but at their worst people have put up with a take what you're given top down approach to public services with choice only available to those with money or sharp elbows.
- The white paper sets out the government's approach to public services by applying five key principles: Wherever possible we should increase choice by giving people direct control over the services they use; Power should be decentralised to the lowest possible level; Public services should be open to a range of providers competing to offer a better service; The state's role is to deliver fair access, fair funding and fair competition: and public services should be accountable to users and to taxpayers.
- By giving people choice to tailor services to their needs, a louder voice, and fair access, people will get better services their way.
- Greater choice will allow people to shop around more and decide where and how they access a service. But giving people choice doesn't mean leaving people on their own. Those who are disadvantaged will get extra help to give them fairer access to the public services they use.
- And people will be given a louder voice to influence public services. Decentralising power and improving accountability will help give people and communities a real say on who, what, where, when and how the services they use are delivered.
- The principles behind open public services were at the heart of the ambitious programme of modernisation set out in the Programme for Government and underpin the progress we are making in schools, in welfare, in health, and in policing. In the past year alone, for example, more than 1000 schools have applied to become academies and 20 groups of public sector employees have opted to create their own new public service ventures.
- The Open Public Services White Paper sets out a comprehensive approach to improving public services, But many of the proposals it contains will require detailed design and extensive consultation, Over the summer there will be wide ranging discussion with individuals, communities staff and providers.
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