The article argues that New Labour’s approach to government units beyond Westminster and Whitehall rests on a fatalistic reading of its environment that specifies its key features in terms of low-trust relationships and a lack of predictability about the success of a range of potential reforms. New Labour’s response in these circumstances resembles that of strategy based on the principles of a lottery. The strategy has allowed a plethora of decentralization units and reform initiatives to find favour but none to dominate. The article explores the nature of this strategy, how it was established and the prospects for its maintenance.Public Administration 2002 Volume 80. ISSN: 0033-3298 http://www.blackwellpublishers.co.uk/asp/journal.asp

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Schemes to combat arson in derelict buildings in Cheshire and Newcastle upon Tyne are being highlighted in a government campaign warning local councils of the risks of deliberate fire setting.The latest government figures show there were 10,700 fires in empty unsecured properties in the UK in 2000. Fires involving waste materials are running at almost 150,000 a year. A circular is being sent to all local authorities offering the first full round up of information and advice on the powers currently available to councils, police and fire services to tackle the threat of arson.

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There has been a big increase in the number of authorities bidding for Beacon Council status in the latest round of applications. The scheme, designed to spread best practice in local government, has received 186 applications – an increase of 42 per cent on last year’s figure.This is the fourth year of the scheme and the Local Government Minister, Nick Raynsford, said it was still attracting new applicants. Of this year’s applications, 29 are from authorities which have never applied before.

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