Report says public service reform slow
THE government’s public service reforms are “all over the place”, according to a scathing report out today.
Reform, a think-tank focused on overhauling public services, said the pace of change in education and health was too slow and not radical enough.
Although education secretary Michael Gove is introducing more academies and free schools – which are both free from local authority control – Reform said his insistence that schools must be not-for-profit ventures was stymying the policy.
And the think-tank said attempts by Andrew Lansley, the health secretary, to overhaul the NHS by giving commissioning power to GPs had not resulted in more accountability to patients.
However the think-tank said the Home Office had delivered a coherent reform programme, by making police forces accountable to their electorates, giving police officers new terms and conditions, and saving money.