Labour shifting away from target culture
Saturday, 27 June 2009 12:00 AM
The minister in charge of public sector reform, Liam Byrne, has said Labour is looking to move away from a target culture in public services.
In an interview with the Guardian, Mr Byrne, who is also chief secretary to the Treasury, said changes will be introduced to ensure that the state is a "guarantor of rights".
The paper reports that proposals include improved personal tuition in schools, minimum waiting times for GPs and improved access to policemen.
Mr Byrne said he would also aim for a "power shift" away from a target culture for public sector organisation to an emphasis on giving people rights to services.
"We know the argument for public services has got to change so we have been developing a strategy that takes public services away from a target culture to giving people rights and entitlement to core public services," he told the paper.
However, the minister also stated that budget cuts would be needed, adding that each government department would be asked to deliver £35 billion in cost reductions in a "very aggressive process".
The government has previously tried to distinguish itself from the Conservatives by portraying the opposition as a party of spending cuts while Labour would invest in order to help Britain out of the recession.
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