Monthly Archives: August 2009

Welcoming a constructive policy, by Mark Farrar

28 August 2009 | Mark Farrar

The announcement from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on the role of the chief construction adviser is a welcome one. It should go some way in showing that the government has been listening to what we desperately need so we are in the strongest possible position when the economic upturn kicks in. Read more...

Tags: | Comment

Tobin back in vogue? by Ian Mulheirn

27 August 2009 | Ian Mulheirn

Lord Turner’s comments about a the benefits of a tax on financial transactions have generated a huge amount of interest. Originally advocated as a means to reduce currency volatility in the wake of the collapse of the Bretton Woods system, the Tobin Tax was unlikely to get a hearing in the era of ‘efficient markets’ hegemony of the past 30 years. During that time, it has instead been advocated by proponents as a revenue-raiser to fund development objectives. Now, with the prevailing macroeconomic theory of the past 30 years found badly wanting, could the original justification be back on the table? Read more...

Tags: | Comment

Slash and burn, by Heather Wakefield

27 August 2009 | Heather Wakefield

What’s in a recession? More than might be necessary or wise when it comes to redundancies in councils, it seems. The cutting of 350 home care jobs and closure of seven daycentres announced in Northumberland is just one recent example of ‘savings’ apparently demanded of local government by the recession. But are these really cuts that the economy needs and the public craves? What’s really behind them? And won’t cutting council jobs help turn a recession into a depression? Read more...

Tags: | 2 comments

Let’s look at the evidence, by Elaine McCann

21 August 2009 | Elaine McCann

The annual publication of A-level results brings with it the agonising over declining standards. Without a good evidence base, it’s hard to ascertain whether there is any truth to the perception that exams get easier with each passing year. Read more...

Tags: | Comment

The end is Nye, by Philip Johnston

20 August 2009 | Philip Johnston

Since Aneurin Bevan established the NHS in 1948, questioning its future has been taboo. But the debate has opened up a can of worms here over US health care Read more...

Tags: | Comment

Swanning around, by Mike Thatcher

20 August 2009 | Mike Thatcher

Controversy over UK and US health services rages on, with David Cameron labelling a Conservative critic of the NHS as an ‘eccentric’ whose views are not representative of the party. Read more...

Tags: | | Comment

Shades of grey

20 August 2009 | Andrew Harrop & Andrea Murray

The Equality Bill will succeed only if there is a greater understanding of how inequalities develop in later life Read more...

Tags: | 1 comment

Risk without reward

20 August 2009 | Mark Horsfield

In a deep recession and with Iceland in mind, councils are playing it safe with their cash. But are they doing enough? Read more...

Tags: | Comment

Care ‘affordability’ is down to choice

20 August 2009 | Reader letters

Ian Owen’s Comment piece ­argued that the state ‘cannot afford to fund the increasing demand for long-term care’ and ‘individuals will have to make greater provision for themselves’(‘Neither free nor easy’, July 24–30). Read more...

Comment

Spot the missing council income

20 August 2009 | Reader letters

In ‘Down your way’, David Wilson and Martin Yates offered advice to councils on coping with the impending pressures on resources (August 7–20). Am I the only one to see the obvious flaw in the ­table showing the financing of local authority revenue expenditure? Read more...

Comment