Archives for August 27th, 2003

REVIEW LOOKS AT PUBLIC SECTOR FOOD PURCHASING POLICIES

Headlines, PublicNet: 27 August, 2003

A review has been launched to look at how food and catering services are purchased by central government and its agencies as well as by local councils, schools, hospitals and prisons The review by public sector caterers and buyers, is being coordinated by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and will look at the environmental impact of production and distribution, waste, energy and biodiversity, animal welfare and pesticide use, and nutrition.The public sector is an enormous customer for food producers – spending more than 1.8 billion pounds a year. The NHS alone spends 500 million pounds. The review will examine whether small producers are being given a fair chance to compete for public sector contracts and whether the type of food served can contribute to organisations’ wider objectives.

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REPORT CALLS FOR WAYS TO TACKLE HOUSING POVERTY

Headlines, PublicNet: 27 August, 2003

Housing poverty is the most extreme form of social inequality in Britain, according to a report published today by the Institute for Public Policy Research. It sets out the case for dramatic changes to close the housing “equity gap” and increase choice.The author, Chris Holmes, an ippr Visiting Research Fellow , accuses successive governments of bowing to the pressure of nimbyism and ignoring the consequences of growing inequality. The report says, that despite increased consensus amongst experts and politicians on the need for radical measures and new homes, there is often strong resistance to local change. The polarisation of housing provision also has a negative effect on school standards, public services, crime and neighbourhoods – all public priorities.

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RESEARCH FRAMEWORK

Abstracts, PublicNet: 27 August, 2003

Qualitative techniques are used extensively in government social research but there are concerns about the rigour of these techniques and the robustness of the evidence base that they draw upon. In response to the concerns the Government Chief Social Researcher’s Office, part of the Cabinet Office, commissioned the National Centre for Social Research to undertake a methodological review of quality standards in qualitative evaluation methods. The aim of the project was to produce guidance for undertaking research and evaluation that uses qualitative methods. The resulting framework provides a useful and useable guide for assessing the credibility, rigour and relevance of individual research studies.Link: http://policyhub.gov.uk/servlet/Menu?id=1728

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