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Ministers plan services shake-up Ministers plan services shake-up
(about 5 hours later)
The government is to set out plans to reduce Whitehall targets and extend new rights to the users of public services.The government is to set out plans to reduce Whitehall targets and extend new rights to the users of public services.
The proposals will be unveiled by Gordon Brown on Monday in a document titled Building Britain's Future.The proposals will be unveiled by Gordon Brown on Monday in a document titled Building Britain's Future.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liam Byrne told the Guardian there was the need for a "power shift" away from civil servants and towards the public. Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liam Byrne said there was the need for a "power shift" away from civil servants and towards the public.
The prime minister will also make a statement on his draft legislative programme for the year ahead.The prime minister will also make a statement on his draft legislative programme for the year ahead.
'Help needed'
The Guardian reports that the shake-up in public services will include entitlements to personal tuition in schools, minimum GP waiting times and access to police working in their neighbourhoods.The Guardian reports that the shake-up in public services will include entitlements to personal tuition in schools, minimum GP waiting times and access to police working in their neighbourhoods.
Mr Byrne told the newspaper: "We need a power shift from Whitehall ministers and civil servants that currently have the power... and move it to citizens." Mr Byrne told the BBC the top-down, targets-led approach was good for transforming services from poor to good, but now a new strategy is required.
We have been developing a strategy that takes public services away from a target culture Liam ByrneChief Secretary to the Treasury Now that we have excellent public services in all parts of the country, how do we keep up the pressure? Liam ByrneChief Secretary to the Treasury
He said the government wanted to ensure it was not just the "pushy" middle classes who benefited from public services. He said that when large sums of money were being invested to turn around services, it was "quite right not to sign a big cheque and say here you go, have a good time".
"I am a pushy middle class parent. I know my way round public services pretty well. Many of the constituents that I serve need a lot more help understanding that system," he said. "But for the decade to come, now that we have excellent public services in all parts of the country, how do we keep up the pressure?"
Mr Byrne added: "We know the argument for public services has got to change so we have been developing a strategy that takes public services away from a target culture to giving people rights and entitlement to core public services." Mr Byrne said there needed to be "a change of gear and a power shift" to take advantage of local initiative and enshrine people's rights to core services.
Fewer targets
BBC News political correspondent Iain Watson says Mr Brown is keen to portray himself as the champion of public services.BBC News political correspondent Iain Watson says Mr Brown is keen to portray himself as the champion of public services.
Fewer targets
But, as one government source put it, with spending facing a squeeze in the years ahead voters will need more evidence of where Labour's approach differs from the Conservatives.But, as one government source put it, with spending facing a squeeze in the years ahead voters will need more evidence of where Labour's approach differs from the Conservatives.
So there will be a new range of what the government is calling "entitlements" and public services will have to meet fewer targets imposed from above.So there will be a new range of what the government is calling "entitlements" and public services will have to meet fewer targets imposed from above.
Instead, there will be more community involvement in how services are delivered.Instead, there will be more community involvement in how services are delivered.
Opposition parties already support fewer centralised targets and the government itself set out plans to give local people more influence a year ago in a document called Communities in Control.Opposition parties already support fewer centralised targets and the government itself set out plans to give local people more influence a year ago in a document called Communities in Control.
The Building Britain's Future document is expected to tackle three main areas - the economy, public service reform and cleaning up politics.The Building Britain's Future document is expected to tackle three main areas - the economy, public service reform and cleaning up politics.
An education White Paper is set to signal the end of centralised national strategies for literacy and numeracy in primary schools.An education White Paper is set to signal the end of centralised national strategies for literacy and numeracy in primary schools.