Conservative proposals to establish an independent Office for Budget Responsibility could fail to fulfil the party's ambition of lowering public debt, senior economists have warned.
Labour local authorities and trade unions have reacted with fury to the Conservatives' proposals to subsidise a freeze on council tax increases, warning that vulnerable people would suffer from town...
Northern Ireland is to follow Scotland and Wales in abolishing prescription charges. Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said that the cost would be reduced to £3 from January 2009 and abolished by...
Financial management in the NHS has improved significantly over the past year, with trusts staying within budgets and delivering greater value for money, the Audit Commission has said.
Northern Ireland Finance Minister Nigel Dodds has said public services must be willing to innovate and adopt cutting-edge ideas in the face of global economic challenges.
Child poverty campaigners have urged the government to invest £3bn in tax credits and benefits after figures showed 174 constituencies in Britain had 50% or more children living in, or on the brink...
Town halls have been praised for exceeding their efficiency savings targets over the past three years. Local government minister John Healey said councils were well placed to cope with a slowing...
Lansley slates hospital rating system
Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley has slammed the Healthcare Commission's performance measurement system for hospitals, saying it didn't tell patients...
David Cameron has made an audacious raid on New Labour territory by calling for greater social mobility. Ahead of next week's Conservative Party conference, David Walker examines the modern politics...
The CBI's director of public services brings a wealth of negotiating and HR experience to the role and will continue to push for more private provision, she tells Paul Dicken
Chancellor Alistair Darling is facing major challenges as he increases borrowing in an effort to maintain public spending, senior economic analysts have told Public Finance .
Energy companies are making annual profits of £1.35bn by charging social housing tenants and others on low incomes extra to use pre-payment meters, a survey shows.
The prospect of concerted public sector action on pay receded this week when unions decided to put the local government dispute into arbitration despite a warning from employers that staff could...
Against all the odds, Number 10 is banking on its latest economic rescue package to turn round the PM's and the party's fortunes. As Labour's annual conference convenes, Peter Riddell weighs up their...
