Trade unions have reacted angrily after the Prime Minister pledged to press ahead with private sector involvement in the NHS.
Gordon Brown told the CBI national conference in London that the role of the private and voluntary sectors will continue to grow, particularly in health, education and employment.
“Private sector involvement in the public sector will be an increasing feature of our economy,” he said.
But a spokeswoman for Unison said: “It is all very well for Gordon Brown to tell the bosses’ union he is going to increase privatisation, but he must know that they are short on delivery and are only interested in lucrative contracts with no risks.
“Study after study shows that the private sector does not deliver good value for money and walks away from contracts when the going gets tough.
“What we need in the public service is stability, and that comes from investing in the workforce and using their skills and experience to improve delivery.”
And a spokesman for the Public and Commercial Services Union said the Prime Minister should be doing more to recognise the skills and expertise of public sector workers who delivered good results despite a lack of resources.
Copyright © PA Business 2007
