The Public Service Debate

The party conference season has been revealing. Although overshadowed by Iraq, the main debates focused on public services. How to improve the NHS, schools, public transport?

The Prime Minister told us, again, he would re-double reform efforts. Since he's been in office five years, that wasn't reassuring.

And what reform? The problem for Tony Blair's Government is, it still hasn't decided how to change public services.

Indeed, there's a furious argument between the Chancellor and Prime Minister. How should health professionals get more freedom to run local services? Should hospitals be able to borrow? When should Ministers stop interfering and let public servants get on with the job?

These are big questions - unresolved by Labour's hierarchy. We've already seen the consequences. In public transport. The school exams fiasco. Target mania.

We need decisions from Government, and soon, if public services are to improve.

Charles Kennedy set up a Commission last year to review our party's public services policy. After a year's work, we've decided on practical proposals.

We would abolish some Whitehall Departments and central spending in favour of greater local power and accountability. We've decided some services can be provided outside the public and private sectors - by social enterprises, mutuals and voluntary bodies. We would extend choice: within the NHS, patients could access cost effective services anywhere in the UK. That is what Mr Kennedy means by "effective opposition".