The coalition government has rowed back from its radical plan to allow private industry to run schools, hospitals and council services, such as parks and adult care. Publication of the White Paper ‘Open Public Services’ has been delayed since March 2011 and it is now going through another re-draft stage to reflect the latest thinking. The plan to extend the delivery of services to third sector organisations, including charities and mutuals, run by former public service employees, is expected to go ahead.

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Support for e-voting has more than doubled in the last five years as more people use the Internet as a part of everyday life.

A survey by Virgin Media Business of more than 2,100 adults found that 43 per cent backed a digitised ballot card system. This compares with 19 per cent support in 2005.

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