The changing role of the state

Abstract

In this chapter the term ‘public sector’ is taken to include non-Departmental public bodies, extra-Governmental organisations, other public bodies and public corporations. It does not include the Departments of Central Government which we dealt with in Chapters 13 and 14 or the institutions of devolved and local government which we shall deal with in Chapter 16. In this chapter we shall begin by looking at those bodies of a semi-autonomous nature which operate to a greater or lesser extent at arm’s length from Ministers and Departments but which effectively act as agencies for central Government and which carry out Government policies. We will then move on to consider a variety of other public bodies before turning to review the problems which were posed by the public corporations over the years. Finally, we shall go on to examine the issues raised by privatisation, which have included the need for new forms of regulation to deal with those sectors where there has been insufficient competition to protect the consumer interest. The various types of institution to be found in the British public sector are shown diagrammatically in Figure 15.1.