The Government is pulling together a think-tank to find a solution to the increasing numbers of people in bed and breakfast accommodation.It comes after a further rise in use of such accommodation, as shown by new homelessness statistics.

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Despite improvements, fraud detection in the NHS remains low, according to a new report by the Audit Commission.The amount of fraud detected has almost doubled over the past year from 1.4 million pounds in 1996/97 to 2.6 million in 1997/98.

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Rowley JTotal Quality Management, (UK), May 98 (9/2&3)Start page: 321. No of pages: 13

Reviews the development in the UK of the User’s Charter, a contract between the public service provider and the customer, and highlights the ensuing need to measure performance; identifies the particular characteristics of services that make measurement difficult, and discusses the nature of quality in respect of services and their classification. Trawls the literature to define service quality dimensions, and concludes that it is essential for the Charter to be understood by both parties and to satisfy their differing needs.

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