A drive is being launched to encourage more secondments from Government to the voluntary sector. This is part of an overall strategy to foster joined up policy making and delivery.Secondments are an important element in implementing the ‘Compact on Relations Between the Government and the Voluntary Sector’ published in November 1998. There is widespread disappointment that there were only 230 secondments between the civil service and voluntary bodies in the last year. 

The Performance & Innovation Unit in the Cabinet Office is to carry out a study to find out which public services could be delivered by electronic means. It is expected that the findings will give a clear view of how technology might be used to deliver world class services. 

Edge JOrganizations & People: Successful Development, (UK), Vol 5 No 4 Start page: 34. No of pages: 2
Argues that management development should be a mandatory requirement for newly elected local government councillors. Contends that members’ current lack of strategic business awareness hinders the development of local authorities and competent management of their resources, although it is not an election issue or vote-winner. 

Ulrich D (Ed.)Aims to justify the existence of the HR function and to define the changes that it must undergo in order to survive. Suggests that HR must deliver benefits to the organisation and that it should focus on outcomes rather than activities. Measures the HR practitioner against other professionals, such as lawyers, doctors and airline pilots, to highlight the significance of the decisions with which they are faced, and the importance of making the choices.