This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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The future of public services
15/06/2006
A discussion document was published today which seeks views from those who deliver and use public services on how to tackle barriers and exploit opportunities to ensure the delivery of world-class services
Transforming Public Services - and the dialogue process which underpins it - will build on a wide range of work the Executive is undertaking to reform public services. It sets out guiding principles of reform, and aims to build consensus on the best way forward for public services in Scotland.
Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform Tom McCabe said:
"The Executive has a very clear vision for public services. Our ambition is to ensure the delivery of world-class services built around the needs of the people who use them - and the public sector shares that ambition.
"We now need to step up the pace of reform and tackle the barriers which prevent us from delivering our shared vision. That is what this discussion document - and the dialogue process which underpins it - will do.
"Our ability to provide world-class public services is linked to our ability to compete in a rapidly-changing world. It is time for a new settlement to equip us for the long-term challenges of the next 20 years.
"The First Minister has set out what challenges Scotland will face and what opportunities may come our way in the next 20 years with the Futures initiative. This will complement that work to ensure Scotland and our public services are well-placed for the future.
"This reform activity is focused on making a real difference to people and communities, maintaining and enhancing the overall quality and volume of public services while keeping a tight rein on public spending.
"Today I offer Scotland's public services the unprecedented bottom-up opportunity to shape their own future. We are not proposing top-down solutions, we are calling on everyone with a stake in public services to consider how best to move forward."
The Minister added:
"There are five fundamental elements which will underpin and support the modernisation process. Transformed public services will:
- Be user-focussed and personalised
- Drive up quality and encourage innovation
- Continue to improve efficiency and productivity
- Be joined-up and minimise separation
- Ensure strong accountability
"These fundamental elements of reform are closely connected and raise questions about whether the current complex map of public services is the best possible structure to plan, deliver and account for public services to a nation of five million people.
"Through the dialogue process based on this document, we want to find opportunities for public services to work together to develop ideas for service reorganisation and for local bodies to bring forward their ideas for local solutions."
Transforming Public Services is available on-line at:
www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/06/15110925
Much has already been achieved, or is underway, to reform Scotland's public services including:
- New guidance to enable rolling out Best Value across public bodies. Details at:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/05/16142759/0
- Consultation on shared services available at:
www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/05/11102023/0
More information on the Futures initiative is available at:
www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/futures/introdufutures