The government has claimed today to have made £5.5bn worth efficiency savings and that these have been “independently audited”.

First, definitions. “Efficiency”, in this context, is usually defined as the relationship (ratio) between the cost of inputs and the amount and quality of outputs. So if, and only if, we have reliable data about both inputs and outputs can we judge whether any changes are “efficiency savings” or merely “cuts” which affect service quantity and quality.

So how do the Government’s claims stack up? Continue reading “Lies, Damned Lies and Government Efficiency Savings – yet again (this is starting to get boring)” →

In an interview for The Daily Telegraph Prime Minister David Cameron seems to say that the idea of another Spending Review is now a dead-duck, which is fascinating as they have just deferred decisions on social care “until the next Spending Review’. Continue reading “#SR2013 – Is another Spending Review dead and buried? David Cameron apparently says ‘yes’” →

For three decades the idea has held say in most of our political class that “Big Government” was inevitably hopeless and only markets, competition, choice and private provision – even of publicly paid for services – will ‘work’.

If we ever needed reminding that life is not so simple the fiasco surrounding G4S – private sector providers of a large part of the security for #London2012 – makes the point. G4S fail to deliver and as a result 3,500 British troops – many of whom probably have redundancy notices in their pockets – are forced to give up their holidays and step into the breach. G4S managers – who probably have handsome bonuses in their pockets – will probably walk away from this shambles largely unscathed.

This reminds me rather forcefully of the point an American public administration academic made after 9/11 – as the Twin Towers burnt it was mostly public sector workers – police, fire-fighters, paramedics – who were going into the buildings whilst it was mostly private sector employees coming out. Many of the former died when the towers collapsed. This is not a criticism of private sector workers – it is merely to point out that public service has merits that private interests can never match.

I gave oral evidence to the ‘Accountability of Civil Servants’ inquiry today, which you can find out about here.

You can see the evidence session here  And you can read my written submission here.

The first of what I hope will be many bits of information from ‘insiders’: Continue reading “#SR2013 Watch No. 1: “A Pretty Brutal Affair” and DCMS faces in-year cuts after Olympics” →