The Government says it wants to launch a major national debate, following the receipt of Lord Jenkins’ report into Britain’s voting system.Responding to the report, Home Secretary Jack Straw said: “The Government wants to study the report in detail. It is also keen to encourage a wide debate in Parliament, in political parties and across the country as a whole.
“No decisions have been taken as to the timing of a referendum on this issue. 

Reforms by the Government to the benefits system aim to be effective by using a customer-focussed approach.Its ’single gateway’ into the benefits system should mean people are less likely to miss out on what help is on offer due to bureaucracy. It also appears to make avoiding receipt of help back into work that bit more difficult. The system will be piloted in four areas of the UK from June next year. 

By Sue Goss and Charles LeadbeaterPublic sector managers are under increasing pressure to deliver better services but, despite government reforms of recent years, they still encounter significant barriers. The public sector is still slow to learn the lessons both of good practice and of service barriers. It is often too concerned about outputs rather than outcomes.
Civic Entrepreneurship argues that those problems - to a large extent - can be faced and overcome.