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Professor Alison Wolf is a Commissioner for the 2020 Public Services Trust which is carrying out an inquiry into public service delivery.

Good public services are vital to our individual and collective wellbeing and prosperity, and the foundation for a fair and cohesive society. They enable us to cope with the uncertainties of life, develop our potential, and extend our opportunities. They act as a practical expression of our shared values and aspirations. They work to correct underlying inequalities, and to advance other shared social, economic or environmental objectives.

The Commission on 2020 Public Services is a major inquiry into how our public services can respond to the significant challenges of the next decade. In a period when resources will be severely constrained, the demands on public services will rise driven by economic, demographic, social and other trends, often global in nature. Exacerbating the dilemmas for policy makers, many of the trends are also constraining the ability of the State to respond.

The Commission will develop a practical but compelling vision for public services in 2020, appropriate to the conditions of the times. It brings to the task a breadth of perspectives and a wealth of experience. Chaired by Sir Andrew Foster, Commissioners are drawn from across the political spectrum, local government, academia, and from the public, private and third sectors. The inquiry will run for 18 months, reporting in the summer of 2010.

www.2020pst.org

Dr Rod Dacombe is the Principal Investigator on a new research project from the Scottish government to carry out a literature review on 'The evidence base for third sector policy in Scotland'. This will be used to inform the future direction of policy towards the third sector in Scotland.
 
The Local Government and Public Service Reform Research Team are commissioning this research on behalf of the Third Sector Policy Division. The overall aim is review the recent research evidence to understand how the third sector in Scotland contributes to the Scottish Government’s purpose of sustainable economic growth and five strategic objectives: wealthier and fairer; smarter; healthier; safer and stronger; and greener. The review should also seek to establish evidence gaps where research capacity is most required.
 
The Scottish Government Economic Strategy highlights the importance of the third sector in achieving sustainable economic growth. Five strategic priorities have been identified on the basis that they are critical to delivering the strategic objectives and purpose. These priorities are: equity; effective government; infrastructure development and place; supportive business environment; and learning skills and well-being. Partnership across government and across the public, private and third sectors is vital in achieving the Government’s purpose of sustainable economic growth. The role of the third sector includes playing a part in increasing the number of highly successful competitive businesses and access to skills, finance and business infrastructure. An enterprising third sector will also support access to the labour market and contribute to achieving solidarity and sustainability.