Delivering high quality public services

The July 2002 Spending Review set plans for substantial new investment in public services over the next three years. Spending on public services will be £63 billion a year higher by 2005-06 compared with this year. Over 75 per cent of this increase will be spent on the Government's priorities of education, health, transport, housing and the fight against crime.

Chart: Spending on health and education

Chart: Spending on health and education

back to top

The Government is as determined to secure value for money for the taxpayer as it is to provide money for priority services. So in each area of public service delivery, the Government is tying resources to reform and results. The Pre-Budget Report sets out the principles that underpin the Government's programme of reform, including:

published long-term targets setting out the key public service improvements that the Government is committed to achieving;
independent audit and inspection to ensure that providers of public services are held accountable for their performance;
local flexibility to allow local providers of public services to respond effectively to conditions and public demands in their areas; and
increased transparency about what is being achieved, with new regular reports of progress against targets on the Treasury internet site.