PUBLIC AMDINISTRATION AND GOVERNMENT 1990-91

In: Parliamentary affairs: a journal of representative politics, Band 44, Heft 1, S. 572-592

Abstract

AS BRITISH POLITICS MOVES INTO THE POST-THATCHER ERA AND THE NEW EUROPEAN FRAMEWORK OF POST-1992, THERE IS RENEWED INTEREST IN THE STRUCTURE AND PROCESSES OF BRITISH GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND THE SHAPE, SIZE AND FUNCTION OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR. THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE EVENTFUL LAST FEW MONTHS IN THIS TRANSITION ARE THE SUBJECT OF THIS ARTICLE. IT STUDIES THE CABINET AND THE EXECUTIVE; PARLIAMENT, SELECT COMMITTEES AND PUBLIC EXPENDITURE; CENTRAL DEPARTMENTS AND POLICY MANAGEMENT; EXECUTIVE AGENCIES; PRIVATIZATION; THE CIVIL SERVICE; LOCAL GOVERNMENT; AND, THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE. IT CONCLUDES THAT THE ROLE OF PARLIAMENT IN ALL THIS NEEDS TO BE CLARIFIED AND THAT IT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO REASSERT ITS POSITION AS CUSTODIAN OF THE PUBLIC INTEREST AND THEREBY RESOLVE THE AMBIGUITY OF THE QUASI-MARKET WORLD OF PUBLIC SERVICE PROVISION.