New guidance from the Government aims to help councils reach out to their communities and implement new ways of involving the public in decision taking.Against a background of low-turn out at council elections, the Government has challenged local government to be more interesting and more accountable. Local Government Minister Hilary Armstrong says the new Guidance on Enhancing Public Participation in Local Government is about giving local councils the toolkit to achieve these challenges. 

The Government is considering introducing a single telephone number to put patients in touch with the full range of NHS services from anywhere in the country.Patients will still be able to ring their local hospital or GP’s surgery directly, but when the new NHS Direct telephone helpline goes national in the year 2000, Ministers hope that it could be used for more than advice.
Health Minister Alan Milburn said that NHS Direct was already proving its worth.