Expert insight, analysis and comment on key public policy issues
By Colin Talbot Filed Under: Whitehall Watch Posted:
I wrote in the previous blog (Budgeting for Hard Choices – in 2011) “So far the Tories problem [about public finances and tax] has escaped serious media scrutiny – and maybe they will escape right up to the Election given how unpopular Labour is and the bias of our main newspapers. But come Budget 2011 the […]
By Colin Talbot Filed Under: Whitehall Watch Posted:
Central government current receipts in February were 9.8% lower and current spending in February was 6.5% higher than in the same month last year, the IFS reported today (19 March 2009). What a surprise. As government income drops and spending increases all eyes will be on Chancellor Alistair Darling when he announces Budget 2009 on […]
By Colin Talbot Filed Under: Whitehall Watch Posted:
I’ve been asked to post this important ‘think piece’ by a group of World Bank and OECD officials about the issues concerning the pay of private sector managers of banks and other institutions that have been effectively nationalised. There is also an on-line survey that the authors would like completed Link to on-line survey. Please pass […]
By Colin Talbot Filed Under: Whitehall Watch Posted:
The Local Government Association (LGA) has published a list of 200 “jargon” words and their ‘plain English’ equivalents. But is this really jargon-busting, or patronising dumbing-down?
By Colin Talbot Filed Under: Whitehall Watch Posted:
“On Tuesday, the Healthcare Commission report revealed that between 2005 and 2008 there were 400 excess deaths at [Stafford] hospital – although it was impossible to say whether these had all been caused by bad care. The report said there were deficiencies at “virtually every stage” of emergency care and managers pursued targets to the […]
By Colin Talbot Filed Under: Whitehall Watch Posted:
A very useful new ‘concept paper‘ has just been published by the European Commission, authored mainly by UK professor Norman Flynn. Aimed at the development community, it will nevertheless be of interest to all scholars and practitioners of public management.
By Colin Talbot Filed Under: Whitehall Watch Posted:
After the government allegedly exceeded its own target to save £21.5bn from its last efficiency drive – the ‘Gershon’ programme 2004-7 – and actually save £26bn, you would think there is little left for the National Audit Office to do. Just issue the odd report saying how well Whitehall is doing and then nip out […]
By Colin Talbot Filed Under: Whitehall Watch Posted:
Here are a few of the articles I have published in ‘Public Servant’ monthly magazine over the past couple of years. More can be found on their website by searching.
By Colin Talbot Filed Under: Whitehall Watch Posted:
Here are links to a few of the articles I have published in ‘Public Finance’ weekly magazine over the past year or so.
By Colin Talbot Filed Under: Whitehall Watch Posted:
from the FT – By Nicholas Timmins Published: March 10 2009 00:39 | Last updated: March 10 2009 00:39