The pressure on government departments, public bodies and local government to outsource public services has intensified since the 2010 election. This growing trend towards contracting out is largely being driven by fiscal austerity and the relentless search for budget savings. But also by the Conservative Party’s deep-rooted belief in marketisation, privatisation and desire for a smaller state.
Contracting out has become part of the DNA of government. But, how effective has it been for the public sector and the companies concerned; has it really delivered the promised savings and improvements in service delivery; and what have been the social and human costs? It is these questions that David Walker and John Tizard address in this timely and insightful policy discussion paper, the first in our 2018 series of “what needs to change” talking points.