Securing the public interest through insourcing and better procurement

This report, written by oursourcing expert John Tizard, investigates the growth in compulsory competitive tendering for public service contracts, and how this has damaged the quality and character of public services and damaged local economies by removing money and the availability of good-quality jobs.

The report recommends an alternative approach that rebuilds effective, efficient and responsive public services, promotes high quality employment and creates a fairer, sustainable, growing economy, based on:

• a strong values–based narrative to promote the social, economic and political case for public services and to facilitate cultural change;
• setting the default as inhouse, publicly owned, publicly managed and publicly accountable public services;
• a major programme of insourcing services that are currently outsourced;
• a commitment to invest as resources allow, to increase expenditure in public services including building capacity and resilience;
• a pledge to ensure that those employed in the delivery of public services are respected and recognised with decent and fair pay, terms and conditions and pensions;
• major reform of public procurement;
• significant increases in public spending and investment.