Public Administration in Britain

1
Public Administration in Britain

• 1Size of the Public Sector ?

2
BS1032 Public Administration in Britain 1Size
of the Public Sector

• How large is the Public Sector in Britain ?
• This can measured in 2 ways
• By the proportion of GDP devoted to the public
  sector
• By the numbers (percentage) of the employed
  labour force

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BS1032 Public Administration in Britain 1Size
of the Public Sector

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BS1032 Public Administration in Britain 1Size
of the Public Sector

• How large is the Public Sector in Britain ?
• Measured by GDP below the average for other
  industrialised nations (UK 41.9 Average47.1)
• McKevitt(1998)
• Spending on healthcare 15th out of 17 European
  nations (Luxembourg5.5 GDP
• UK 5.7
• Germany 7.8)

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BS1032 Public Administration in Britain 1Size
of the Public Sector

• Numbers employed
• April 1991 494,660
• April 2001 453,700 (-8.3)
• In Executive agencies

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BS1032 Public Administration in Britain 1Size
of the Public Sector

• TOTAL STAFF IN
• ALL DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES 482,670 Of Whom
• EXECUTIVE AGENCIES 276,650
• CUSTOMS AND EXCISE 21,690
• INLAND REVENUE 63,090
• CROWN PROSECUTION SERVICE 5,480
• SERIOUS FRAUD OFFICE 180
• TOTAL ON NEXT STEPS LINES 367,090 of which
  TRADING FUNDS 28,750

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BS1032 Public Administration in Britain 1Size
of the Public Sector

• Local Authorities
• Education teaching 485,960
• Education other 675,909
• Social services
  336,453
• Fire
  50,643
• Services direct to the public
  453,653
• Corporate functions
  164,051
• Total
  2,166,669

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BS1032 Public Administration in Britain 1Size
of the Public Sector

• How many people are employed in local government?
  
• 
  FT PT
  Male
  Female Male Female Totals
• Education teaching 108,213 240,590 25,703
  111,454 485,960
• Education - other 41,726 100,953 41,963
  491,267 675,909
• Social services 40,820 115,258 13,920
  166,455 336,453
• Fire 35,924 3,777 8,965
  1,977 50,643
• Direct to the public 203,331 94,257 33,481
  122,584 453,653
• Corporate functions 59,973 63,138 6,308
  34,632 164,051
• Total 489,987 617,973 130,340
  928,369 2,166,669
• Source Employers' Organisation, Local Government
  Employment Survey 2000

H
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BS1032 Public Administration in Britain 1Size
of the Public Sector

• Phases in size of the public sector
• 1945-1975 Market failure, public enterprise
• 1975-2000 Resurgence of market solutions
• 2000-? Partnerships between public and
  private sectors

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BS1032 Public Administration in Britain 1Size
of the Public Sector

• Reactions to the role of the state Pessimistic
• All public services provided by taxation
• Therefore it is a burden to the taxpayer
• Therefore ought to be minimised to release
  productive potential
• State should only intervene to protect the
  market

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BS1032 Public Administration in Britain 1Size
of the Public Sector

• Reactions to the role of the state Optimistic
• Public sector civilises society
• Public sector supports enterprise by
  socialising unprofitable areas which would
  otherwise be unregulated
• Higher quality of life guaranteed (if not
  standard of living)

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BS1032 Public Administration in Britain 1Size
of the Public Sector

• The State in Europe..
• http//society.guardian.co.uk/commongood/comment/0
  ,8146,459559,00.html
• Argues that the state is
• much bigger
• not subject to political debate
• concern is with responsiveness not with size