R A W Rhodes and Patrick WellerThis book explores the roles and workings of the heads of government departments in six nations: departmental secretaries in Australia, departmentchefs in Denmark, directeurs d’administration in France, secretaris-general in the Netherlands, chief executives in New Zealand and permanent secretaries in the UK. It also seeks to explore their ‘infinite variety’ by showing how inherited government traditions shape the response to reform. It examines how such reforms as privatization and contracting out have affected who does these jobs and how they do them.

Read more on THE CHANGING WORLD OF TOP OFFICIALS…

A survey by Oftel has revealed that initiatives to reduce the digital divide between those who have access to electronic e-government services and those who do not, have had little impact. Access to the Internet has continued to grow with 34% of UK homes connected. The figure was 30% in November 2000. This represents an increase of 1 million homes connected to the Internet since November. Access continues to remain highest amongst younger and middle aged groups, higher income and large households.Although a further 15% of UK homes thought they would be likely to connect to the Internet within the next 12 months, but over 36% said they didn’t want or need the Internet at home. This digital divide might however be narrowed by the finding that Digital TV appears to be an increasingly popular means of connection amongst lower income groups. Younger consumers in particularly are starting to use alternative methods including mobilephones, games consoles and personal organizers as well as digital TV.

Read more on INTERNET SURVEY CONFIRMS DIGITAL DIVIDE…

Junior doctors have criticized the three main political parties for failing to make a commitment to recruit enough doctors to support implementation of the European Working Time Directive, which limits the working week of hospital doctors. At a conference to be held in London tomorrow they will call for NHS reform and modernization initiatives to be supported by an expansion in the number of consultants, junior doctors, GPs and nurses. They will make it clear that for the initiatives to work they must be supported by sufficient funding.The Working Time Directive limits the working week for doctors to 58 hours by 2004 and 48 hours by 2009. The British Medical Association believes that to reach a 48 hour week will require an additional 7000 junior doctors. Labour has pledged to provide 2000 more medical school places by 2005 and the Conseratives have committed to match Labour spending. The Liberal Democrats would make an additional 2500 places available.

Read more on JUNIOR DOCTORS CRITICAL OF POLITICIANS’ PROMISES…