Digital TV is increasingly seen as the most effective way of ensuring that the gap between the information rich and the information poor is bridged and that people are not disadvantaged because they do not have access to the Internet. Over half the UK population use the Internet but only 10% of the lowest income group are online, compared to 82% in the highest income group. 

New laws coming into effect today give local councils more freedom to decide how to manage their finances, to engage in trade and charge for services which are not a legal requirement. They are now free to borrow without Government consent, provided they can afford to take on the debt. 

By Philip Allmendinger, Mark Tewdwr-Jones and Janice MorphetSince the 1990s there has been a long-standing concern in government towards public sector accountability, management, efficiency and service delivery.