The Week, 14 June 2019
17 Jun 2019 02:50 PM
Blog posted by: Claudia Martinez, 14 June 2019.
Reformer of The Week
The BBC for making the financially responsible decision that free TV licence fees for over-75s will become means-tested.
Quote of The Week
“A soft, intermittent thudding sound becomes apparent, the sound of Treasury officials’ heads gently banging on desks as they listen to the promises being made by the contenders vying to become the new first Lord of the Treasury, better known as the prime minister.”
Paul Johnson, writing for The Times, on Monday
“I am not committing any money until it is clear that there is money available.”
Rt Hon Rory Stewart MP, Secretary of State for International Development, writing for the Financial Times on Wednesday
Good Week For
Technology and public services
On Monday Oliver Dowden MP, Minister for Implementation, launched a new tech guide to help government departments implement artificial intelligence to save money and improve services.
Decarbonising the economy
On Wednesday, the Government announced it would set a legal target for the UK to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050, which will have a positive impact on public health.
Bad Week For
Investing taxpayers’ money
According to the National Audit Office , the Government’s Help to Buy scheme handed out £11.7 billion in loans to buyers that could have purchased a home without support.
Waiting times for cancer treatment
The Public Accounts Committee has warned that only 38 per cent of NHS trusts and foundation trusts are meeting the 62-day waiting time target for cancer treatment.
Reform's Week
Charlotte Pickles, Director at Reform, authored a blog on the BBC’s decision to scrap free TV licences for over 75s.
On Thursday, Reform issued a statement commenting on the Ministry of Justice’s latest knife crime statistics. The statement was covered on the BBC and The Times among other publications.
Aidan Shilson-Thomas, Researcher at Reform chaired three panels at the Modernising Justice Conference 2019, including one with Justin Russell, Chief Inspector of HMI Probation, on the future of the probation service.
Eleonora Harwich, Director of Research at Reform, spoke at the UKIO’s conference in Liverpool on Wednesday. She also spoke at an event organised by The Health Foundry on how to encourage greater diversity within the healthtech sector.