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	<title>Public Finance Opinion &#187; PF blog</title>
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		<title>Life after death, by Judy Hirst</title>
		<link>http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2010/09/life-after-death-by-judy-hirst/</link>
		<comments>http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2010/09/life-after-death-by-judy-hirst/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:10:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Judy Hirst</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[PF blog]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/?p=4628</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[So what did the Audit Commission ever do for us? Not much, judging from the chorus yelling 'good riddance' as soon as Communities Secretary Eric Pickles announced the watchdog's death.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2010/09/life-after-death-by-judy-hirst/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Why social housing fosters social exclusion, by Alex Morton</title>
		<link>http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2010/09/why-social-housing-fosters-social-exclusion-by-alex-morton/</link>
		<comments>http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2010/09/why-social-housing-fosters-social-exclusion-by-alex-morton/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:05:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alex Morton</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[PF blog]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/?p=4615</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[National Housing Federation chief executive David Orr is simply wrong to suggest that there is 'no evidence whatsoever’ to suggest that social housing damages the life-chances of many of those it accommodates. ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2010/09/why-social-housing-fosters-social-exclusion-by-alex-morton/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Keep the two-tier workforce Code, by John Tizard</title>
		<link>http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2010/08/keep-the-two-tier-workforce-code-by-john-tizard/</link>
		<comments>http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2010/08/keep-the-two-tier-workforce-code-by-john-tizard/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:05:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Tizard</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[PF blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[coalition]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Employment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pay and pensions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Private and third sector]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/?p=4613</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There is growing speculation that the Government will scrap the Best Value Workforce Code. This places a statutory duty on local authorities to ensure that workforce issues are addressed in procurements and contracted services. 
]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2010/08/keep-the-two-tier-workforce-code-by-john-tizard/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Committee politics, coalition style, by Dan Corry</title>
		<link>http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2010/08/committee-politics-coalition-style-by-dan-corry/</link>
		<comments>http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2010/08/committee-politics-coalition-style-by-dan-corry/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:03:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dan Corry</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[PF blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Central government]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[coalition]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Liberal Democrats]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Parliament]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/?p=4611</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In this new world, Cabinet Committees become much more crucial than they have been for years. And the role of Lib Dem Secretaries of State on these bodies is really key.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2010/08/committee-politics-coalition-style-by-dan-corry/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Tax and spend: there is an alternative, by Richard Murphy</title>
		<link>http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2010/08/tax-and-spend-there-is-an-alternative-by-richard-murphy/</link>
		<comments>http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2010/08/tax-and-spend-there-is-an-alternative-by-richard-murphy/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 30 Aug 2010 19:10:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Richard Murphy</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[PF blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[coalition]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[George Osborne]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Public spending]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tax]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/?p=4606</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The UK has a tax gap - a difference between the tax that should theoretically be yielded using the laws that are in place, and that which is actually collected
]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2010/08/tax-and-spend-there-is-an-alternative-by-richard-murphy/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Road signs: better safe than scenic? By Andrew Jepp</title>
		<link>http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2010/08/road-signs-better-safe-than-scenic-by-andrew-jepp/</link>
		<comments>http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2010/08/road-signs-better-safe-than-scenic-by-andrew-jepp/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Aug 2010 11:46:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Andrew Jepp</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[PF blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Local government]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Public spending]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Transport]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/?p=4602</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This week's calls from ministers to reduce unnecessary street signs, railings and advertising hoardings, the latest in a wealth of cost-saving announcements, reveal a potentially short-sighted approach to the management of our public spaces]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2010/08/road-signs-better-safe-than-scenic-by-andrew-jepp/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Clegg &amp; the IFS: opportunity knocked, by Colin Talbot</title>
		<link>http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2010/08/nick-clegg-vs-ifs-by-colin-talbot/</link>
		<comments>http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2010/08/nick-clegg-vs-ifs-by-colin-talbot/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 26 Aug 2010 17:11:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Colin Talbot</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[PF blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Liberal Democrats]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Public spending]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unemployment]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/?p=4597</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Nick Clegg claims that the coalition's policies are 'fair' and we shouldn't get hung up on numbers. Nice try Nick, but no prize, I'm afraid]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2010/08/nick-clegg-vs-ifs-by-colin-talbot/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Free schools: not for turning, by Melissa Benn</title>
		<link>http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2010/08/free-schools-not-for-turning-by-melissa-benn/</link>
		<comments>http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2010/08/free-schools-not-for-turning-by-melissa-benn/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Aug 2010 11:52:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Melissa Benn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[PF blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Conservatives]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Public spending]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[schools]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/?p=4586</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Today's Institute for Fiscal Studies report showing that the austerity drive is going to hit the poor the hardest will only confirm to Gove and co the need to keep arguing that their education policy is there to  help the disadvantaged.
]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2010/08/free-schools-not-for-turning-by-melissa-benn/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The no-win generation, by Conor Ryan</title>
		<link>http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2010/08/the-no-win-generation-by-conor-ryan/</link>
		<comments>http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2010/08/the-no-win-generation-by-conor-ryan/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 24 Aug 2010 15:04:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Conor Ryan</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Editor's choice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PF blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Conservatives]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Employment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unemployment]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/?p=4577</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This week's GCSE celebrations - as with the A-level ones last week - will be muted somewhat by the lack of opportunities facing young people after they digest their results]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2010/08/the-no-win-generation-by-conor-ryan/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>VIDEO BLOG: Facing the cuts, by Chris Bilsland</title>
		<link>http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2010/08/video-blog-facing-the-cuts-by-chris-bilsland/</link>
		<comments>http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2010/08/video-blog-facing-the-cuts-by-chris-bilsland/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 20 Aug 2010 10:29:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Chris Bilsland</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[PF blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CIPFA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Local government]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[spending cuts]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/?p=4563</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[City of London chamberlain and chair of the CIPFA local government panel discusses the challenges facing councils; protected areas of public spending; and the abolition of the Audit Commission.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2010/08/video-blog-facing-the-cuts-by-chris-bilsland/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>How to spend it, by Robert Allison</title>
		<link>http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2010/08/how-to-spend-it-by-robert-allison/</link>
		<comments>http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2010/08/how-to-spend-it-by-robert-allison/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:00:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Robert Allison</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[PF blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[David Cameron]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Efficiency]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Private and third sector]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Public spending]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/?p=4559</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As part of the government's review of spending in the public sector, it has called for greater transparency across all departments]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2010/08/how-to-spend-it-by-robert-allison/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>First 100 days: services take a haircut, by Marc Cetkowski</title>
		<link>http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2010/08/first-100-days-services-take-a-haircut-by-marc-cetkowski/</link>
		<comments>http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2010/08/first-100-days-services-take-a-haircut-by-marc-cetkowski/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 18 Aug 2010 13:14:26 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Marc Cetkowski</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[PF blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Conservatives]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[David Cameron]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[George Osborne]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Public spending]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/?p=4553</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Where is the love they promised? David Cameron and George Osborne appear to have turned into hairdressers, but more Sweeney Todd than Nicky Clarke. ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2010/08/first-100-days-services-take-a-haircut-by-marc-cetkowski/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>VIDEO BLOG: Mutual appreciation? By Heather Wakefield</title>
		<link>http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2010/08/mutual-appreciation-by-heather-wakefield/</link>
		<comments>http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2010/08/mutual-appreciation-by-heather-wakefield/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 18 Aug 2010 10:28:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Heather Wakefield</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[PF blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Local government]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mutuals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[spending cuts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[third sector]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unison]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/?p=4548</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[PF blogger and head of local government at Unison discusses employee-owned public services; the impact of spending cuts on women; and the coalition government's record to date.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2010/08/mutual-appreciation-by-heather-wakefield/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Speed trap, by Andrew Jepp</title>
		<link>http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2010/08/speed-trap-by-andrew-jepp/</link>
		<comments>http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2010/08/speed-trap-by-andrew-jepp/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 17 Aug 2010 15:45:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Andrew Jepp</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[PF blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Justice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Local government]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Outsourcing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Police]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Risk]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/?p=4542</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The latest cost-cutting idea is for speeding fines to be issued by private bodies. But we have to be careful that in the rush to deliver savings today we do not create even bigger problems tomorrow]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2010/08/speed-trap-by-andrew-jepp/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>It&#8217;s all Greek to George Osborne, by Colin Talbot</title>
		<link>http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2010/08/its-all-greek-to-george-osborne-by-colin-talbot/</link>
		<comments>http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2010/08/its-all-greek-to-george-osborne-by-colin-talbot/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 17 Aug 2010 10:50:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Colin Talbot</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[PF blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Central government]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[George Osborne]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Greece]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[International]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Public spending]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/?p=4529</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One of the most disingenuous refrains coming from the coalition is the attempt to compare the UK with Greece, and suggest that unless brutal action is taken we will see interest rates soar as the markets lose confidence in the British government's ability to pay its debts]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2010/08/its-all-greek-to-george-osborne-by-colin-talbot/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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