This guidance, while still recognising the
effectiveness of competition as a tool, encourages departments to use the most appropriate
means to improve the service or activity in question. Departments should therefore review
all of their services and activities against the options set out in BQS, ie abolition,
internal restructuring, contracting out, market testing and privatisation. All of these
options should be considered on a cases by case basis and Departments should use what
works best. Each Government department has set a target in its Public Service Agreement
for the percentage of its services and activities to be reviewed under BQS
over the next three years. BQS encourages a consultative approach to the conduct of these
reviews.
Better Quality Services applies to all government departments,
agencies and executive non-departmental public bodies and will be of direct interest to
those concerned with the delivery of services in the wider public sector.
The refocused advice on contracting out exercises, contract monitoring and retendering
should help departments to obtain best value in the continuous pursuit of better public
services.
The new guidance is entirely pragmatic. It is about looking for the right solutions and
demonstrates the Government’s positive approach to public services. Key features
include:
