10th November 2003

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With wildcat strikes by firefighters continuing across the United Kingdom, a University of Ulster expert today joins 19 of Europe's leading thinkers and political analysts to debate problems faced by governments and public sector bodies.

"Governments often have great ideas about managing the public sector but it is often difficult to put those ideas into practice," said Professor Colin Thain, of the University of Ulster's School of Politics.

"The Treasury has not been that successful in controlling public expenditure. It is a difficult area to plan for."

"Public sector management issues, like reform of healthcare and pensions, which are right at the core of all European governments' policy agenda will be up for discussion."

Professor Thain said it was an ‘honour and privilege’ to be one of only 20 people invited to the ‘one-off’ two-day London conference organised by The British Council, in association with the UK's Economic and Research Social Council.

He said: "It's a great opportunity to discuss, with a degree of freedom, the issues and problems facing not just Tony Blair's administration but other governments in Europe in terms of managing the public sector and resolving problems.

"We are going to be talking about the effectiveness of public policy and the problems of co-ordinating the public sector. Political leaders have great ideas on how to improve things for us and how to deliver the public sector to us - the consumer - but there is a complicated bureaucracy involved, and it is not always easy for governments to put great ideas into practice."

The fact that conference will be conducted in private should encourage everyone to discuss and debate openly, said Professor Thain.

"As it is a controversial time for Blair's administration this will also avoid embarrassing comments being leaked to the press about questions concerning his government's failure to deliver," said Professor Thain.

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