In response to Simon's query about consular work... I am currently on a one year political posting - after this I will do one more year in London probably doing what is opaquely termed a 'service delivery' role. These are jobs that focus more on providing a service (clue is in the name I guess!) - either to the public or to the FCO as an organisation. These roles can be anything from UKvisas work,...

A new text messaging service has now been launched in Flintshire. The ‘TXT Flintshire’ text messaging service is for young people, parents and those who work with them. Through this free service, those signed up will be able to receive up to date news and information on events happening in Flintshire that might interest them.

Against the trend here is news of a new bus service. Lothian Buses have begun a service running from George IV Bridge down Causewayside, Liberton Brae and on out to IKEA and Easter Bush. The last destination is the clue. It is a service part subsidised by Edinburgh University and, although designed for students initially it is a public service for anyone. It provides a welcome addition to the Pott...

Ready to serve Yesterday we were treated to an endless stream of self-styled "public service" broadcasters telling us why we should pay for even more of them. Is the BBC anywhere near enough? Is it credible that the BBC's mere hundreds of TV and radio channels can really satisfy the public's boundless need for public service broadcasts? Wouldn't the public be even better served if t...

David Cameron will warn today that, unless the NHS brings in vital reforms, the public risks losing its central principle - a service that is free for all.

"Dutch defence minister Eimert van Middelkoop says he is "very happy" he found a legal way to dodge his military service in the 1970s because he has difficulties in coping with authority". Source It is pretty poor that no-one (to my knowledge) in the higher echelons of the current government has done military service, let alone active service - and no Secretary of State here has served with the co...

Welcome to another in my occasional series on useful, interesting or controversial findings from academic studies. Today it is a study into the impact of public service broadcasting which looked at the US, the UK, Denmark and Finland. These four countries were chosen because Denmark and Finland have a very strong TV public service approach,

How does the Procurement Directive 2004/18/EC define a service concession? *** Service concession Article 1.4 of the Procurement Directive 2004/18/EC defines a service concession in the following way: 4. ‘Service concession’ is a contract of the same type as a public service contract except for the fact that the consideration for the provision of services consists either solely in the ...

I was asked to write about improving efficiency in the health Service. As someone who has never run a hospital you might well ask what is the point of reading what I have to say. Have I done anything that is relevant? I

The Prime Minister has backed the proposal for a new independent service to sign workers' long-term sicknotes, instead of GPs. The plan, which Pete wrote about at the weekend, is aimed at ensuring that people on sick pay or sickness-related benefits really are too ill to work. Cameron describes how it would work in today's Mail: 'The independent service would be free to all employer...