Education Secretary David Blunkett is pressing on with his bid to achieve the most far reaching reform of the education system for 50 years. He has written to Clive Booth, Chair of the Teacher Training Agency setting out work that has to be done quickly. The top priority is to develop a numeracy test for trainee teachers ready for piloting in the summer. Earlier work on teacher numeracy showed very low levels of competence. 

Primary Care Trusts may be given a budget of 60m pounds to commission
healthcare for their patients. This will allow them to shape hospital and community services for patients in their area and to invest in improving primary and community services provided by doctors, nurses and other local professionals. They will also be able to develop more integrated services between general practice, community services and social services. 

Seifert R, Tegg V
Journal of Management Development, (UK), 1998 Vol 17 No 9
Start page: 686. No of pages: 13
Studies the approach taken to management development in the British and Irish civil services, placing this in the context of the changes being made to the civil service in both countries. Assesses how management development is being used to support the ‘new public management’. 

The Civil Service College Directory for 1999-2000 has been launched, with details of over 450 open and bespoke training and development programmes.
There are 69 new programme titles offering a comprehensive range of training and development opportunities to people in all disciplines, and at all levels, right across the wider public sector. 

Publication of the Report into the death of Stephen Lawrence has put racism on the public service agenda. The Race Relations Act will be extended to public sector organisations. Home Secretary Jack Straw said: “This is about the whole of British society, the public services within it and what we all must do to make sure these appalling events lead to a change in race relations within our society”. 

Joined up government depends on getting a clear view of the issues that public bodies need to address. A campaign has been launched to find out which issues are of concern to the 24 million women in the UK.
Tessa Jowell, Public Health Minister presented the first of a series of ministerial roadshows in Manchester. There will be further roadshows at regional centres until June. 

The Prime Minister has announced plans to speed up preparations for joining the single European currency. He stressed that the plans represent a change of gear and not a change of policy. To keep open the option of joining the currency preparations must start now and the National Changeover Plan sets out a range of work for different sectors. 

The Government is consulting on plans to extend the permissible powers
of social landlords so that they can play a full part in bringing new life to their communities. The aim is to allow them to participate in wider social regeneration initiatives such as the New Deal for Communities. The extension would include providing amenities for people who were not tenants. 

The Employment Service has changed its culture for the better over the last 18 months said employment Minister David Blunkett. He was launching The Way Ahead a vision for the long term direction for the 1000 job centres and 35,000 staff.
The first Way Ahead published last year set out a values framework to progress cultural change. It included: achievement, service, partnership, people and quality. 

The Health and Safety Commission has set out its view of what partnership
means with organisations such as employers, unions and insurers.
It says others have good health and safety practice high on their core
objectives, and by working together, all involved would be winners.
HSE Director General Jenny Bacon said: “There are many potential partners
in the health and safety system.