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Home

• May 05, 2012
• 13:25

  A liberal Queen's Speech

   » ‎ Home

  

  7 May 2012

  Set out below are nine measures that CentreForum would like to see included in the Queen's speech to parliament on Wednesday 9 May. For comment on the actual speech, please call us on 020 7340 1161, or email tom.frostick@centreforum.org.

• April 27, 2012
• 13:32

  Dropping the bomb: a post Trident future

   » ‎ Home

  

• April 13, 2012
• 8:52

  Hosepipe bans are not the answer: lessons from electricity markets

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  Tim Leunig April 2012

  At present, no domestic user is allowed to use a hosepipe when a ban is introduced. Under CentreForum's scheme, commercial users in a drought year will be offered compensation for reducing their consumption. The water saved could then be sold to domestic customers.

  "Water companies should not be encouraged to pick on any particular group. Instead we should be offering compensation to industrial and agricultural users who agree to use less water. The water saved could be offered to water meter households who want to use hosepipes. Since households pay more for water than industrial and agricultural users the price difference can be used to pay the compensation."

  - Tim Leunig, Chief Economist, CentreForum

  Download the report.

• April 02, 2012
• 15:43

  Informed decisions: tackling information inequalities in higher education

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  Gill Wyness April 2012

  In this report CentreForum sets out five radical ways of getting information on universities into the hands of young people and parents.

  The five point plan is intended to boost the government's drive to unlock information about different courses and institutions. From September 2012 the Higher Education Funding Council for England will require all universities and colleges to place standard sets of data, Key Information Sets (KIS), on their websites to help applicants "find quickly and compare easily, the headline items which students consider most important".

  CentreForum welcomes this direction of travel but is concerned that the people most likely to look at the KIS will already be the best informed.

  The report urges the government to do more to ensure that information reaches those from non traditional backgrounds, who are generally less aware of the costs, experience and long term benefits of going to university..

  Download the report.

  Coverage in Times Higher and the Guardian

• March 26, 2012
• 18:23

  Guarding the guardians: towards an independent, accountable and diverse senior judiciary

   » ‎ Home
  Alan Paterson and Chris Paterson March 2012

  This report argues that senior judicial appointments including those to the Supreme Court are in need of significant reform.

  The emergence of a more powerful judicial branch of government provides an important check on executive power.  However, it must be buttressed by a constitutionally appropriate appointments system.

  A typical Supreme Court appointments process involves assessment of candidates by up to 26 individuals.  21 of these are themselves judges.  Yet in a democracy, no branch of government should have the potential to be effectively self-perpetuating.

  The Supreme Court is currently composed of 11 white men and one white woman.  The 8 new appointments to the Court have all been white men.  The most recent appointment process involved assessment of candidates by 24 white men and one white woman.  As the Chief Justice of Canada puts it, "Psychologists tell us that human beings have a tendency to see merit only in those who exhibit the same qualities that they possess".

  Report co-author, Professor Alan Paterson OBE of the Centre for Professional Legal Studies, said:

  "It is no reflection on the high calibre individuals appointed under this system to say that it is manifestly untenable as a system.  Democratic legitimacy requires that the appointment process contain a better balance between judges, laypersons and politicians."    

  Report co-author Chris Paterson said:

  "A strong senior judiciary is essential to the protection of individual rights, but it must be supported by an appropriate appointments system.  Diversity, as a basic component of the Supreme Court’s ability to deliver justice in modern society, must be integral to this."

  Download the full report.

  Coverage in the Times, Financial Times and Guardian

• March 16, 2012
• 18:23

  Taxing decisions: the debate between tax credits and personal tax allowances

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  Thomas Brooks with Chris Nicholson and Howard Reed (Landman Economics) March 2012

  The government has committed itself to increasing personal tax allowances to £10,000 by 2015. At a time when low to middle earning households are being squeezed, this policy has been promoted as progressive - supporting "millions" not "millionaires". But are tax allowances or tax credits the best way to support working families? This report offers detailed analysis of both approaches.

  It begins by outlining amendments to the tax and benefit system which would raise almost £12 billion in a progressive manner. Tax reliefs for the most affluent should be cut, and emphasis is placed on taxation of unproductive wealth rather than income. The revenue raised can be spent on our separate personal tax allowance and tax credit proposals.

  CentreForum offers personal tax allowance proposals to increase the personal allowances for both income tax and national insurance to £10,000 alongside a reduction in the higher rate threshold to ensure that higher rate taxpayers do not benefit.

  Landman Economics then propose immediate amendments to the Working Tax Credit (WTC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC) systems, to increase the child element of CTC and the basic element and childcare element of WTC.

  Download the report.

• March 12, 2012
• 15:22

  How to be an effective junior member of a coalition

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• 15:22

  How to be an effective junior member of a coalition

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• March 08, 2012
• 14:40

  Employee ownership: unlocking growth in the UK economy

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  Patrick Briône and Chris Nicholson March 2012

  In this report, CentreForum shows how greater employee ownership and share ownership boosts business performance, reduces inequality within firms, and increases innovation, long term thinking and employee well being. CentreForum believes this should be the at heart of the coalition government's growth strategy.

  The report comes amid growing political interest in measures to tackle 'crony capitalism'. David Cameron, Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband have all said they want to encourage 'responsible capitalism' and curb 'fat cat' pay.

  In his 'John Lewis economy' speech to CentreForum, Nick Clegg went a step further by promoting employee ownership. The deputy prime minister said that giving individuals "a real stake in their firms" not only discourages short termism and unfair bonuses but is also "a hugely underused tool in unlocking growth".

  CentreForum's proposals set out in the report include giving a single minister responsibility for promoting employee ownership and share ownership, and giving employees of firms that employ over 250 people a 'right to request' shares.

  Download the report.

  Click here to read the response of the Employee Ownership Association.

  See also: 'Employee empowerment: towards greater workplace democracy' (January 2012)

• March 06, 2012
• 12:22

  Child Benefit: what to do about higher rate taxpayers

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  Tim Leunig
  March 2012

  The government has announced that child benefit will be taken away from higher rate taxpayers in order to show that (pensioners excepted) we really are "all in this together".

  But linking child benefit to the income of the main earner, rather than to household income, has odd effects. A family with two earners, each just below the higher rate threshold, will not lose out. In contrast a family with one earner just above the threshold will lose out, even though the family is not as well off. The sums involved are large: £2,500 a year for a family with three children.  

  In this short report, CentreForum's chief economist Tim Leunig looks at how best to address the dilemma over higher rate taxpayers.

  Download the report.

• March 02, 2012
• 17:08

  Dropping the bomb: a post Trident future

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  Toby Fenwick March 2012

  In this report CentreForum urges the government to cancel its nuclear deterrent programme and use the savings to shore up conventional military capabilities.

  The report warns that Britain is sleepwalking into replacing its Trident missiles at a capital cost of over £25 billion. It points out that this is happening at a time of deep cuts to the UK's conventional forces, two decades after the collapse of the Soviet threat that Trident was designed to deter.

  CentreForum proposes that Britain should retain the capability to design and build nuclear weapons if they were required in future. It also recommends that the expertise at AWE Aldermaston in Berkshire could be used to develop verification technologies, which are necessary for global nuclear disarmament.

  Download the full report. 

  Select media coverage: BBC News Online, BBC R4 Today, Guardian, ConservativeHome

  "A must read contribution to the debate on whether there are alternatives to Trident. I have long argued that  more serious thought needs to be given to a long warning 'just-in-case' option, and this paper should help provoke such a debate."

  - Professor Malcolm Chalmers, Director, UK Defence Policy, RUSI

• February 27, 2012
• 14:15

  CentreForum at the Liberal Democrat Spring Conference 2012

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• February 25, 2012
• 19:09

  Lord Heseltine speaks at launch of 'Getting better value from Public Sector Research Establishments'

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  22 February 2012

  

  Image courtesy of and copyright Rex Features

• February 06, 2012
• 17:11

  The Work Programme: keep calm and carry on

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  Chris Nicholson February 2012

  In this short research note CentreForum urges the government to stand firm on its flagship scheme to get unemployed people back into work.

  Since its launch in June 2011 the Work Programme has faced considerable criticism; most recently from the National Audit Office which said that the government had over estimated the likely performance of the scheme.

  CentreForum acknowledges that in certain areas of the Work Programme a different approach would have been beneficial. But its report warns that changing course would undermine efforts to tackle long term unemployment, and threaten future government contracting for services.

  Download the full report.

• January 31, 2012
• 12:51

  CentreForum's response to the drop in university applicants for 2012 entry

   » ‎ Home

  31 January 2012

  On Monday UCAS released figures showing an 8.7 percent drop in university applicants for 2012 entry. CentreForum's education researcher Gill Wyness said the figures were "disappointing, but to be expected. We saw similar trends in 1998, when fees were first introduced, and in 2006, when they were increased to £3,000 per year. Application numbers were up in 2011 as many students sought to avoid the tuition fees hike. The test here will be whether applications recover in 2013."

• January 27, 2012
• 12:15

  Tier 4 tears: how government student visa controls are destroying the private HE sector

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  Chris Nicholson January 2012

  In this report, CentreForum calls for the reversal of student visa controls which prohibit international students enrolled on HE courses at private colleges from working part time to support their studies.

  Since these controls were introduced in 2011, enrolment numbers are estimated to have dropped by around 70 percent. One private institution, Cavendish College London, has already closed, while others face being taken over by public universities.

  CentreForum had previously warned government about the adverse impact of the Tier 4 student visa reforms. It is now concerned that the impact has been "swift and probably even more devastating than was predicted."

  Download the full report.

  See earlier CentreForum publications 'Tier 4 Fears: why government student visa proposals are unfair' (June 2011) and 'Pathway to prosperity: how to make student immigration work for universities and the economy' (February 2011)

• January 23, 2012
• 14:41

  CentreForum chief economist warns over benefits cap

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  23 January 2012

  CentreForum's chief economist Tim Leunig has issued a warning over government plans to cap benefits at £26,000 a year.

  Writing in the Guardian, Tim argues that the cap will force claimants to live on as little as 62p per person per day after rent, council tax and utilities. His analysis applies to a family with four children, living in private rented accommodation in Tolworth, the London Borough of Kingston.

• January 13, 2012
• 16:28

  Keynote speech by the Deputy Prime Minister

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  16 January 2012

  Nick Clegg will be delivering a keynote speech to CentreForum and the City of London Corporation.

  If you have responded to the invitation but have not yet received details of the venue, please contact the CentreForum office on 020 7340 1160 (outside working hours, try calling Anthony Rowlands on 07761 232 064 or Tom Frostick on 07765 444 246).

  Due to limited capacity, we cannot accept any further RSVPs.

• 16:28

  Nick Clegg speech on 'responsible capitalism'

   » ‎ Home

  16 January 2012

  

  Nick Clegg delivered a keynote speech to CentreForum and the City of London Corporation.

  See coverage of the event on the BBC, Sky, Guardian, Independent and Telegraph.

  The full text of the speech can be accessed here.

  The CentreForum report 'Employee empowerment: towards greater workplace democracy' can be downloaded.

• January 07, 2012
• 14:02

  Employee empowerment: towards greater workplace democracy

   » ‎ Home
  Patrick Briône and Chris Nicholson January 2012

  There is strong evidence that giving employees more of a voice in the firm that employs them is of benefit to both the firm and the employees. Just as important is the democratic case: employees have a fundamental right to be involved in key decisions that affect their lives.

  Boosting employee participation should therefore be an integral part of the coalition's growth strategy of supply-side reforms.

  In this report, CentreForum sets out a package of measures that the government should consider to promote employee empowerment and workplace democracy.

  Download the full report.

  "Increased employee participation in how companies are run has been a longstanding Liberal Democrat principle, and CentreForum offers some radical proposals for how this can be promoted. Their paper deserves serious consideration."

  - Rt Hon Nick Clegg MP, Deputy Prime Minister

  "There is strong evidence that the combination of employee empowerment and employee share ownership can help boost company performance. The CentreForum paper makes a powerful case for why this should be embraced as part of the coalition government's growth strategy of long term suppy-side reforms."

  - Ed Davey MP, Minister of State for Employment Relations, Consumer and Postal Affairs

• December 16, 2011
• 11:45

  London schooling: lessons from the capital

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  Gill Wyness December 2011

  The report 'London schooling: lessons from the capital' measures the academic attainment of pupils with similar characteristics (the same income background, ethnicity, language and gender) across London and the rest of England.

  It concludes that London's pupils are achieving better-than-expected results at most ages and levels of attainment. That is, pupils in the capital at Key Stage 1 (ages 5-7) are performing no better or worse than those in other regions of England, but then start to pull away from their non-London counterparts at Key Stage 2 (7-11), with the results gap remaining at Key Stage 4 (14-16).

  Download the full report.

  Click here to view table showing pupil performance by English local authority.

  "This study underlines an argument we have been consistently making. Deprivation need not be destiny. There are some superb state schools in disadvantaged areas generating fantastic results, such as Mossbourne Academy in Hackney or Burlington Danes in Hammersmith."

  - Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Education

• November 26, 2011
• 22:10

  CentreForum's Autumn Statement: a five point plan to boost demand and growth

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  27 November 2011

  Faltering growth and rising unemployment makes Tuesday's Autumn Statement vitally important. Although the current fiscal position and state of the financial markets limits the Chancellor's freedom of manoeuvre, 'to do nothing' is simply not an option.

  Accordingly, CentreForum has come up with five straightforward measures which it believes will boost demand and growth over the coming period.

• November 23, 2011
• 18:10

  Community land auctions: moving towards implementation

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  Tim Leunig November 2011

  In Budget 2011, George Osborne announced that the government will be piloting Community Land Auctions, an idea first put forward by Tim Leunig in 2007.

  The report 'Community land auctions: working towards implementation' sets out this idea in more detail. It uses real figures from developers to show that in the south east, where housing is most needed, Community Land Auctions would raise at least £45,000 per house for the community that allowed them to be built.

  CentreForum believes that this step-change in incentives will persuade people to back more housing in their area, rather than oppose it.

  Download the full report.

• November 14, 2011
• 17:05

  Delivering growth while reducing deficits: lessons from the 1930s

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  Nicholas Crafts November 2011

  Conditions in the 1930s were very similar to those found today: interest rates were already low, the government deficit needed to come down, and the world economy was in disarray. Yet the UK economy grew by almost 20 per cent between 1933 and 1937. This success was built on the government announcing that prices would rise and interest rates would remain low, which gave consumers and firms confidence to borrow and spend. This in turn stimulated the economy.

  Today, Britain is in the same position and needs to achieve the same result. In a new report for CentreForum, Professor Nicholas Crafts looks at what the government did then – and what we can learn from history...

  Download the full report.

• November 09, 2011
• 18:08

  Getting better value from Public Sector Research Establishments

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  Quentin Maxwell-Jackson November 2011

  This report compares the success of Public Sector Research Establishments (PSREs) that are privately owned or operated with those still in public hands. It finds that

  • privately owned or operated PSREs are particularly effective in employing technology transfer at the heart of their business models to drive profitable growth and increase employment.
  • the main difference in performance between government owned, government operated (GOGO) establishments and those now in the private sector is financial and organisational. One GOGO laboratory (Forensic Science Service) has made significant losses in a highly competitive market, and is due to close in 2012. By contrast, privatised laboratories like LGC and QinetiQ have grown strongly and profitably since privatisation.
  • the success of some of the privatised establishments, and to some extent those under private management, stems directly from the removal of public sector operating constraints including slow decision making, high overheads and a lack of access to capital.
  • removing these constraints would yield value for money benefits and savings. However, CentreForum believes some activities need to remain in the public sector for reasons of security and the need for impartiality.
  • there is evidence that former public sector scientists were positive and enthusiastic about furthering their careers in the private sector.
  • clarity about the advice and services government needs from public sector research establishments is key to getting the best performance from them, but this clarity has not always been present.

  Download the full report and appendices.

• November 01, 2011
• 17:48

  A relief for some: how to stop lump sum tax relief favouring the wealthy

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  Mark Lloyd with Chris Nicholson November 2011

  The tax relief permitted on pension lump sums disproportionately benefits the wealthy at taxpayers’ expense. The result is a regressive system where those with the most generous entitlements also receive the highest rate of tax relief. At a time when the public finances are under strain wealthy individuals are able to shelter considerable amounts of pension income from the tax system.

  This report proposes that those individuals taking lump sums above the higher rate tax threshold (£42,475) should have to pay tax analogous to income tax at the higher rate. This would mitigate the regressive outputs of the current pension system whilst ensuring that the average pensioner can still benefit from the flexibility that a tax-free lump sum provides at retirement.

  Download the full report.

  "A close inspection of this issue is long overdue. Tax relief on pensions must not be ring-fenced from efforts to make the overall tax system fairer."

  - Lord Newby, Co-chair of the Liberal Democrat Treasury Parliamentary Policy Committee

• October 12, 2011
• 23:17

  Mastering postgraduate funding

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  Tim Leunig
  October 2011

  'Mastering postgraduate funding' proposes a new way of financing one year taught postgraduate courses based on the system for undergraduate loans. Under this proposal, the government would loan prospective students £10,000 up front and reclaim the money later through income contingent payments.

  CentreForum's modelling shows that most students would pay back their entire loan after they had graduated. It also suggests that any losses would be outweighed by higher tax revenues from individuals who would not otherwise have undertaken postgraduate level work.

  Download the report.

  "Access to postgraduate degrees is important in promoting social mobility. I welcome CentreForum's report."

  - Rt Hon Nick Clegg MP, Deputy Prime Minister

  "This is the latest in a series of timely and thought-provoking reports on higher education from CentreForum. We will consider the recommendations carefully and look forward to hearing the response of universities and students."

  - Rt Hon David Willetts MP, Minister of State for Universities and Science

  "I am glad to see such a timely contribution to the vital policy issue of UK graduate funding. I hope that it will be given serious consideration."

  - Professor Andrew Hamilton, Vice-Chancellor, Oxford University

  "CentreForum's proposal is important both because it addresses a badly-neglected area and because it shows that practical solutions exist."

  - Professor Nick Barr, Professor of Public Economics, LSE

• October 06, 2011
• 9:47

  CentreForum at the Liberal Democrat Autumn Conference 2011

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  Reports from some of the 26 fringe events which CentreForum hosted at the Liberal Democrat Autumn Conference 2011

• September 26, 2011
• 16:07

  An analysis of Labour’s proposed £6,000 undergraduate degree cap

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  Tim Leunig
  September 2011

  This report finds that the typical beneficiaries of Labour's plan to cap student fees at £6,000 a year will be graduates in their fifties earning £72,500.

  CentreForum believes the policy is regressive because virtually no one in the bottom half of the earnings distribution, and virtually no one under the age of 35, will stand to gain from it.

  Furthermore, the policy will be harmful during a period of economic recovery – banks will be taxed now so that graduates pay back less in 28 years' time.

  Download the report.

  "I would urge anyone attracted to Labour’s proposals to read this very informative analysis. It makes clear that the policy only benefits wealthier, older graduates. It exposes Labour’s claim that they want to help young people as completely false."

  - Rt Hon Dr Vince Cable MP, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills

  "This timely analysis highlights the flaws in Labour's proposals. They don't help students and they don't help the economy. CentreForum's detailed and rapid analysis should be welcomed by all who care about higher education."

  - Rt Hon David Willetts MP, Minister of State for Universities and Science

• September 15, 2011
• 14:18

  Moving from the financial crisis to sustainable growth

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  Vince Cable September 2011

  The prime preoccupation of the coalition government has been to manage the fallout from the global financial crisis. This remains very much an ongoing concern, and a creative and flexible policy mix is necessary.

  In this paper, the coalition business secretary Vince Cable provides a detailed account of how the government has worked, and will continue to work, to reduce the deficit, rebalance the economy and promote growth.

  "There is a lot of uncertainty about the economy, globally and in the UK. The issue is how to maintain growth in the face of weakening demand. The Government has a key role in stimulating growth and the essay describes what is being done and could be done, consistent with achieving UK fiscal stability and with the overall strategy for maintaining policy credibility.

  "It is not ideology but sound economic theory and I have always believed in the value of politicians engaging in the intellectual as well as political debate.

  "I look forward to reading the essays that follow in this series from CentreForum. There is a wealth of ideas and experience that the Government wants to drawn on in the years ahead as we get the economy back on course.”

  - Rt Hon Dr Vince Cable MP, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills

  Download the publication.

• September 12, 2011
• 11:11

  Tax and the coalition: fairness and responsibility?

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  Dick Newby September 2011

  With economic inequality at levels not seen since the late forties, and with the issue of tax avoidance at the forefront of political discussion, a fairness deficit has arisen in the public consciousness. In this publication, Lord Newby, Co-Chair of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Treasury Policy Committee, sets out how fiscal retrenchment during the current Parliament can be achieved in a fair way.

  The report shows how the coalition’s policies on tax can marry the liberal value of personal freedom with the need for fairness and responsibility. It examines current issues such as the 50p income tax rate and the mansion tax, as well as looking at proper enforcement to reduce avoidance and evasion.

  With these suggestions, the report shows what the coalition government could do to make Britain fairer within the lifetime of this parliament.

  Download the full report.

• August 16, 2011
• 23:01

  Degrees of quality: how to deliver the courses we need at prices we can afford

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  Gill Wyness August 2011

  This report calls for an end to the current loop of self-monitoring where universities teach, award and mark their own degrees - and urges research-intensive universities to design standardised curricula that can be taught in the majority of institutions.

  It warns that government plans to introduce a market in higher education may have undesirable consequences, with more providers making quality and value less easy to determine. It is suggested that moving to common standards and independent marking will be an effective quality control measure, similar to A-levels.

  "CentreForum's report is the first systematic explanation of the case for separation of teaching from accreditation. It is hugely important for the debate about teaching in higher education - and not just in this country."

  - Gervas Huxley, Teaching Fellow in Economics, University of Bristol

  Download the full report.

• August 03, 2011
• 17:14

  Parenting matters: early years and social mobility

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  Chris Paterson August 2011

  The government has embraced the key message that it is by providing support in the earliest years of a child’s life that the biggest differences can be made.

  The most important factor influencing a child’s development is the quality of parenting they receive and the quality of the Home Learning Environment this creates. The government has stated that 'what is needed is a much wider culture change towards recognising the importance of parenting' and has expressed the desire for 'parenting advice and support to be considered the norm'.

  This report strongly supports this willingness to engage directly with what is happening in the family sphere to prevent the (deeply illiberal) squandering of individual potential.

  "This is an excellent report: a national parenting campaign is exactly what Britain needs. CentreForum proposes a powerful set of ideas by which this can be achieved."

  - Graham Allen MP, Author of the Independent Report to HM Government 'Early Intervention: The Next Steps'

  "This intelligent, creative and forward-looking paper is packed full of good and stimulating ideas. I commend it to all policy thinkers interested in parenting and social mobility in the UK."

  - George Hosking, Founder and CEO of WAVE Trust

  "The report is very useful because it draws attention to an issue that makes a big difference to children."

  - Gareth Jenkins, Save the Children (from BBC article)

  Download the full report.

• July 29, 2011
• 12:34

  The end of the peer show? Responses to the draft bill on Lords reform

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  CentreForum and The Constitution Society July 2011

  Focusing on the debate on government proposals published in May 2011, this joint publication from independent educational trust The Constitution Society and the liberal think tank CentreForum brings together direct responses to the draft bill on Lords reform from distinguished academics, peers and MPs.

  Contributors

  Graham Allen MP, Chair of the Select Committee on Political and Constitutional Reform Prof Sir John Baker QC, University of Cambridge Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP, Shadow Leader of the House of Commons Prof Patrick Dunleavy, The London School of Economics Mark Harper MP, Minister for Political and Constitutional Reform Prof Lord Harries of Pentregarth, Gresham College David Howarth, University of Cambridge Rt Hon Lord Maclennan of Rogart, Co-Chair of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Policy Committee on Constitutional and Political Reform Prof Iain McLean, University of Oxford Prof Dawn Oliver, University College London Rt Hon Baroness Royall of Blaisdon, Shadow Leader of the House of Lords Dr Meg Russell, University College London Rt Hon Baroness D'Souza of Wychwood, Convenor of the Crossbench Peers

  Download the publication.

• July 11, 2011
• 10:45

  Your choice: how to get better public services

   » ‎ Home

  The government is committed to reforming the provision of public services. While there is widespread support for a system with increased competition and choice, the details of possible changes are both controversial and complex.

  This report argues that whilst the government is correct to look to choice and competition, it should take an evolutionary approach to change and emphasises the vital role which regulation should play in shaping the development of the market. It also presents a set of requirements for successful public sector reform:

  • High quality information. Users must have good information and advice on which to base their choices;
  • Thoughtful regulation. Regulation needs to protect public service users from the imperfections of the market and promote competition where appropriate;
  • A rigorous approach to the transfer of risk. The government must avoid transferring too much risk to the private sector;
  • A logical approach to ownership. The government claims to be ownership blind, but this is often not the case;
  • Employee ownership and mutuals have much to offer, but are not always appropriate.
• 10:45

  Your choice: how to get better public services

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  Chris Nicholson
  July 2011

  The government is committed to reforming the provision of public services. While there is widespread support for a system with increased competition and choice, the details of possible changes are both controversial and complex.

  This report argues that whilst the government is correct to look to choice and competition, it should take an evolutionary approach to change and emphasises the vital role which regulation should play in shaping the development of the market. It also presents a set of requirements for successful public sector reform:

   

  • High quality information. Users must have good information and advice on which to base their choices;
  • Thoughtful regulation. Regulation needs to protect public service users from the imperfections of the market and promote competition where appropriate;
  • A rigorous approach to the transfer of risk. The government must avoid transferring too much risk to the private sector;
  • A logical approach to ownership. The government claims to be ownership blind, but this is often not the case;
  • Employee ownership and mutuals have much to offer, but are not always appropriate.

  Download the full report
• July 05, 2011
• 9:53

  School choice and accountability: putting parents in charge

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  Julian Astle, Sheree Bryant and Charles Hotham

  July 2011

  The CentreForum report School choice and accountability: putting parents in charge explores a new vision for school accountability; one in which the pressure on schools to deliver a first rate service comes from below, from parents, rather than above, from politicians and officials.

  At the centre of this vision lies a web-based tool designed to provide parents and pupils with all the search options they need to find schools that meet their own circumstances and preferences. The interactive 'School Choice and Accountability One Stop Shop' provides all the information needed, including a new school rating system to replace the existing league tables to make objective judgments about different schools' relative strengths and weaknesses.

  Download the full report.

  "It's exciting that influential progressive organisations such as CentreForum are already coming up with new ideas for presenting data in ways that are accessible to parents.

  I am overjoyed with the publication of this paper."

  - Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Education

• 9:53

  School choice and accountability: putting parents in charge

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  Julian Astle, Sheree Bryant and Charles Hotham
  July 2011

  The CentreForum report School choice and accountability: putting parents in charge explores a new vision for school accountability; one in which the pressure on schools to deliver a first rate service comes from below, from parents, rather than above, from politicians and officials.

  At the centre of this vision lies a web-based tool designed to provide parents and pupils with all the search options they need to find schools that meet their own circumstances and preferences. The interactive 'School Choice and Accountability One Stop Shop' provides all the information needed, including a new school rating system to replace the existing league tables to make objective judgments about different schools' relative strengths and weaknesses.

  Download the full report.

  "It's exciting that influential progressive organisations such as CentreForum are already coming up with new ideas for presenting data in ways that are accessible to parents.

  I am overjoyed with the publication of this paper."

  - Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Education

• July 01, 2011
• 15:54

  School choice and accountability: putting parents in charge

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  Julian Astle, Sheree Bryant and Charles Hotham July 2011

  The CentreForum report School choice and accountability: putting parents in charge explores a new vision for school accountability; one in which the pressure on schools to deliver a first rate service comes from below, from parents, rather than above, from politicians and officials.

  At the centre of this vision lies a web-based tool designed to provide parents and pupils with all the search options they need to find schools that meet their own circumstances and preferences. The interactive ‘School Choice and Accountability One Stop Shop’ provides all the information needed – including a new school rating system to replace the existing league tables – to make objective judgments about different schools’ relative strengths and weaknesses.

  Download the full report.

  "It’s exciting that influential progressive organisations such as CentreForum are already coming up with new ideas for presenting data in ways that are accessible to parents.

  I am overjoyed with the publication of this paper."

  - Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Education

• June 28, 2011
• 14:34

  CentreForum's response to HE white paper

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  28 June 2011

  CentreForum, the liberal think tank, has weighed up the pros and cons of the higher education White Paper, 'Students at the heart of the system', released today (28 June).

• June 09, 2011
• 11:28

  Tim Leunig's speech at launch of 'Universities challenged'

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  9 June 2011

  

  Full text of speech delivered by Tim Leunig, Chief Economist, CentreForum at the launch of his paper Universities challenged: making the new universities system work for students and taxpayers

• 9:00

  Tier 4 Fears: Why government student visa proposals are unfair

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  Mark Lloyd with Chris Nicholson June 2011

  Current Home Office proposals to remove the working rights of international students at private higher education colleges will create a two-tier system. Under the proposals, students on a university-accredited degree course taught at a private college will not have the right to work part-time, whereas students at public institutions will. Private institutions seeking to attract international students will be competing on an uneven playing field which is against the government's HE plans.

  In Tier 4 Fears: why government student visa proposals are unfair, CentreForum proposes an alternative. Non-EU students studying degree courses at private colleges should have the right to work part-time, as long as the awarding university is prepared to sponsor the students' visa applications. That way, universities could continue to expand the scope of their degree courses through collaboration with the most suitable providers.

  Download the full report.

• June 07, 2011
• 9:23

  A real incentive for local development

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  By Tim Leunig, Chief Economist, CentreForum

  The government has announced an amendment to the Localism Bill currently working its way through Parliament. It will amend Section 70 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (“determination of applications for planning permission: general considerations”), in order to make “local finance considerations” material when local planning authorities decide whether or not to grant planning permission.

• April 06, 2011
• 10:14

  Universities challenged: making the new universities system work for students and taxpayers

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  Tim Leunig April 2011

  The new university funding regime gives universities an incentive to charge as much as they can. That most are announcing fees of £9,000 should surprise no-one. Neither students nor OFFA are effective at securing value for money. That is bad for students and bad for taxpayers, who pick up the bill for unpaid student loans.

  This paper sets out a way to ensure that universities offer value for money. Rather than giving universities a quota of places, and allowing them to set their own prices, they would be required to bid for places, which would be awarded to those institutions that offer good value.

• March 23, 2011
• 15:32

  CentreForum's response to Budget 2011

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  23 March 2011

  Budget 2011 contained announcements in several policy areas where CentreForum has had significant influence and/or has recently published research. We set out these areas below, along with links to relevant CentreForum reports and key contacts.

• March 18, 2011
• 11:33

  Growth matters: why the Budget must be for the long term

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  CentreForum and FTI Consulting March 2011

  This pre-Budget report by economists at CentreForum and FTI Consulting focuses on what the Government can do to boost growth.

  The report recommends:

  - Bigger incentives for local authorities to encourage land development, including localising business rate revenue, trialling community land auctions and reforming the Revenue Support Grant.

  - If introduced, Enterprise Zones must cover large areas and concentrate on simplified planning regimes, rather than financial incentives that will simply divert activity from nearby locations.

  - There are strong arguments for greater geographical variation in public sector pay, as  current pay levels can make it difficult for the private sector to attract skilled labour in some places. Such changes must not force depressed regions to compete simply on low wages.

  - Reinstating a Young Person’s Guarantee of a job or training place, with greater emphasis on private sector jobs.

  - Sector based growth policies must focus on removing barriers to growth. For example, we need a rethink on immigration curbs that are harming professional services and higher education.

  Download the full report.

• March 17, 2011
• 11:48

  Football and the Big Society

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  Paul Marshall with Sam Tomlin March 2011

  This report looks at how the bond between football clubs and their fans could be strengthened through a series of reforms to club ownership and finance. Arguing that under its current governance structure English football is blighted by unsustainable levels of debt and instability, the authors call for:

  - the introduction of a consistent licensing regime across the professional game to include financial fair play rules encompassing income statement and balance sheet measures of financial sustainability;

  - rights of supporter representation on football club boards and extension of the Fit and Proper Persons Test;

  - community 'Right to Buy' rules, where fans are offered a chance to buy back their club when a change of ownership occurs; and

  - reform of the FA such that its regulatory and management responsibilities are separated.

  Download the full report.

• March 15, 2011
• 11:04

  Academic rigour and social mobility: how low income students are being kept out of top jobs

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  Elizabeth Truss March 2011

  Low income students are being steered away from the most rigorous academic subjects, putting them out of contention for top jobs. The middle of the job market is being squeezed and in order to secure the growing number of professional, managerial  and technical jobs, applicants require respected formal qualifications. Low income students who don’t receive the ’morse code‘ emanating from employers and top universities have been ’mis-sold‘ low quality GCSE and A-levels and find themselves on the outside track.

  Key findings of this report by Elizabeth Truss, Member of Parliament for South West Norfolk:

  - Britain is developing an ’hourglass economy‘ where high skilled jobs requiring formal qualifications are increasing and those in the middle are squeezed.

  - Britain’s international competitors have all seen a strengthening and widening of academic education to address the need for an educated society.

  - England’s low income students have been let down by poor teaching and an ‘equivalence’ system that missells the value of low quality GCSE and A-levels.

  - England needs to reform the rigged qualification system so that rather than being encouraged to move away from core academic subjects, low income students are encouraged to study them so that they have access to the emerging top jobs.

  Download the full report.
• March 07, 2011
• 9:22

  Getting your share of the banks: giving the banks back to the people

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  Stephen Williams March 2011

  The 2008 financial crisis led to the government taking substantial shareholdings in the Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking Group. The time will soon come for the state to divest itself of these shareholdings. In the CentreForum report 'Getting your share of the banks: giving the banks back to the people' Stephen Williams MP, co-chair of the Liberal Democrat Treasury Parliamentary Committee, proposes a new model of privatisation. His proposal would maximise the likelihood of recouping the entirety of the government's investment whilst distributing shares to the British public, showing that capitalism can be both popular and fair.

  The full report can be downloaded here.

• March 03, 2011
• 17:12

  Energy secretary Chris Huhne addresses CentreForum on the UK's energy future

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  3 March 2011

  Full text of speech delivered by Rt Hon Chris Huhne MP, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change.

• March 01, 2011
• 11:28

  Cooperating out of crime

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  Dave Nicholson March 2011

  David Cameron's Big Society initiative envisages an increased role for communities and for voluntary and private sectors in the delivery of public services. As part of this, the Ministry of Justice is seeking to involve prisoners in their own rehabilitation - requiring them to work, earn money and repay the victims of their crimes.

  This paper proposes that the 'rehabilitation revolution' would be boosted by the establishment of cooperatives and mutuals. This would allow offenders, ex-offenders, professional staff and community members to work in partnership providing employment, promoting rehabilitation and supplying comprehensive after-care services.

  Collaborative structures such as these will foster the development of systems of mutual social and economic support to help offenders to desist from crime, and build a safer society.

• February 28, 2011
• 10:02

  Pathway to prosperity: making student immigration work for universities and the economy

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  Thomas Brooks with Chris Nicholson February 2011

  This report makes suggestions for how to strengthen the student visa system without preventing genuine students from studying in the UK.

  The coalition government’s proposed reforms of the immigration system seek to reduce total net migration, and also to eliminate migration fraud from student visa provision. As the largest proportion of non-EU migrants, international students have received particular scrutiny. The aim to reduce the number of fraudulent students is understandable, but the methods proposed by the government to meet this aim would deter many genuine students without achieving the government’s objectives. In particular, raising the minimum English language level would harm higher education and the whole economy by blocking genuine students from studying in the UK.

• February 22, 2011
• 17:54

  Rehabilitation works: ensuring Payment by Results cuts reoffending

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  Chris Nicholson February 2011
  The prison population has increased to over 85,000 and spending on rehabilitation has reached record levels; yet reoffending rates remain stubbornly high in the UK. There is widespread agreement within the coalition government that the country is in need of a 'rehabilitation revolution'. However, rather than government deciding such initiatives centrally, the Ministry of Justice is proposing a much greater role for the private and voluntary sectors. Furthermore, it anticipates that for some groups of offenders providers of rehabilitation services should be paid only to the extent that they are successful in reducing reoffending – Payment by Results (PbR).

  Drawing on the commercial experience of the author, Rehabilitation Works: ensuring Payment by Results cuts reoffending assesses the practicalities of implementing a PbR regime for reducing reoffending. How should the system be designed so as to avoid the risk of ‘parking and creaming’ of clients or offenders? And in what way can it be ensured that a diverse provider base is created, where SMEs and third sector organisations are not priced out of the bidding process? In order for a PbR model to be effective, there must be a diverse provider market and a commercial framework ensuring providers can generate a return whilst also offering the government value for money as a result of the policy. This paper recommends a phased introduction of outcome based payment mechanisms and stresses that the scheme will not be effective if offenders are treated as a single generic group.

• February 21, 2011
• 13:53

  CentreForum at the Liberal Democrat Spring Conference 2011

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  This year's spring conference was held in Sheffield.

• 13:35

  Class of '81: who are the true heirs to the SDP?

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  21 March 2011

  Speakers: Rt Hon Lord Adonis, Former Secretary of State for Transport; Rt Hon Chris Huhne MP, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change; Greg Clark MP, Minister of State for Decentralisation

  Attlee Suite, Portcullis House, London SW1A 2LW

  18.15 - 19.45

  By invitation only | RSVP to info@centreforum.org
• February 17, 2011
• 10:55

  Latest press article - Quit the quotas: only competitive tension will keep fees down

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  By Tim Leunig, Chief Economist, CentreForum

  The University of Cambridge will charge undergraduate tuition fees of £9,000 a year, and the University of Oxford appears set to follow suit. Just as Rolls-Royce charges high prices almost by design, so our elite universities were always destined to do so.

• February 11, 2011
• 10:15

  Green growth: how best to promote green investment

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  February 2011
  Green growth: how best to promote green investment argues that there may be a case for the proposed Green Investment Bank to invest in the early stage of new green technologies, for industrial policy reasons and to help the financing of particularly large projects such as offshore wind power projects in their development phase. However, CentreForum concludes that the case is not proven for a more extensive role for the Bank including it issuing ‘green bonds’. The report, which reviews the economic case for government intervention to promote green investment, draws on experience from a wide range of European countries.
• January 31, 2011
• 12:23

  NHF Decentralisation and Localism Bill Conference

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  31 January 2011

  CentreForum at the National Housing Federation's Decentralisation and Localism Bill Conference

  Session B3, 11.45-12.45, Localism: new local government

  Chris Nicholson, Director and Chief Executive, CentreForum, appeared alongside Alex Thomson, Chief Executive of Localis. The session focused on whether local authorities will be in a position to benefit from a host of new powers devolved from central government - and how the control shift will affect their relationship with housing associations.

• January 27, 2011
• 12:18

  Osborne needs strategy out of growth muddle

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  By Tim Leunig, Chief Economist, CentreForum

  What a week to be Ed Balls. Labour’s shadow chancellor wins the job he craves, and on cue terrible figures arrive to vindicate his case that cuts harm the economy. George Osborne, chancellor, blames his predecessor (and the snow). But it is now clear the Coalition has no economic plan B, while their plan A – cut now, and hope – looks increasingly suspect.

• January 24, 2011
• 12:23

  NHF Decentralisation and Localism Bill Conference

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  31 January 2011

  CentreForum at the National Housing Federation's Decentralisation and Localism Bill Conference

  Session B3, 11.45-12.45, Localism: new local government

  Chris Nicholson, Director and Chief Executive, CentreForum, will be appearing alongside Alex Thomson, Chief Executive of Localis. The session will focus on whether local authorities will be in a position to benefit from a host of new powers devolved from central government - and how the control shift will affect their relationship with housing associations.

  Further details can be found on the NHF website.

• January 20, 2011
• 0:00

  Britain's points based migration system (by invitation only)

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  20 January 2011

  Speakers: Bridget Anderson, Compas; Alasdair Murray, report author; Glyn Williams, Head of Immigration Policy, UK Border Agency

  Chair: Julian Astle, CentreForum

• January 15, 2011
• 0:00

  Challengers or collaborators: can progressives influence the coalition?

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  15 January 2011

  CentreForum/Fabian Society fringe at the Fabian New Year Conference 2011

  Panellists: Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP; Sian Berry; Simon Hughes MP; Will Straw; Sunder Katwala

• January 07, 2011
• 14:55

  Media plurality

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  12 January 2011

  Speakers: Professor Steven Barnett, University of Westminster; Lord Black of Brentwood; Lord Steel of Aikwood

  Chair: Professor Ian Hargreaves, University of Cardiff

• December 08, 2010
• 17:18

  Prime Minister addresses CentreForum on the future of higher education funding

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  Full text of speech delivered by Rt Hon David Cameron MP

  Please check against delivery

  Today I want to talk about the future of universities in this country. We’ve seen the protests. We’ve seen the marches. We’ve seen how passionate many of our students are about this issue. Well let me tell you this. I am just as passionate.

• November 12, 2010
• 11:04

  War and Law: Chilcot's Iraqi lessons and Iranian challenges

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• 11:04

  War and Law: Chilcot's Iraqi lessons and Iranian challenges

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  14 December 2010

  The Annual 80 Club Lecture was organised by Liberal Democrat Lawyers' Association in association with CentreForum

  Speaker: Professor Philippe Sands QC

  Chair: Alistair Webster QC

• October 22, 2010
• 14:35

  Safe as houses? Security of tenure for social housing tenants in England

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  Tom Gibson with Chris Nicholson October 2010   Safe as houses? Security of tenure for social housing tenants in England argues that the Government's plans to restrict security of tenure would change the understanding which has historically been at the heart of social housing, forcing families to move out of their homes and removing tenants who often serve as the 'social glue' which helps bind communities together. Instead it proposes that greater flexibility could be introduced into the existing social housing stock by periodically reassessing the circumstances of social tenants, with those who can afford to do so paying a market rent, with the additional revenue ringfenced for reinvestment in the housing supply.
• September 15, 2010
• 13:23

  Making ends meet: challenges for the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review for the United Kingdom

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  David Kirkpatrick
  September 2010

  In recent years, a worrying gap has emerged between the military ambitions of the UK armed forces, and the financial resources allocated to them. The gap is likely to widen further in the coming years as the coalition government starts to cut public spending to eliminate the government budget deficit.

  This is the context for the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR), charged with making recommendations about the UK's future role in world affairs and about the financial resources which that role would require. In practice the SDSR must try to reduce the defence budget without incurring an unacceptable increase in the risks to national security.

• August 12, 2010
• 9:09

  Closing the gap: building an opportunity society

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  Speech by Rt Hon Nick Clegg MP
  Deputy Prime Minister

  Wednesday 18th August
  10:45 for 11:00 - 12:00
  12 Great George Street, London, SW1P 3AD

• 9:09

  Closing the gap: building an opportunity society

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  Full text of speech delivered by Rt Hon Nick Clegg MP
  Deputy Prime Minister

  Please check against delivery

  As of today, the new Coalition Government is 100 days old. Inevitably there is a plenty of discussion about our performance to date. Everyone will have their own view about the start we have made.

• June 21, 2010
• 8:43

  Dealing with debt: lessons from abroad

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  Edited by John Springford
  June 2010   The UK’s new coalition government is performing the first incisions in some drastic surgery to the state. The fiscal consolidation, which will take several years, will require a delicate – and highly political – balancing of competing interests, as it entails a transfer of wealth from taxpayers, government workers, welfare recipients, to debt markets, but in a way that prevents any party from walking out on the deal.   Other countries have been here before. Dealing with debt: lessons from abroad brings together four authors, from Canada, Ireland, Sweden, and Australia, to discuss how their governments cut and reshaped the state in recent years, and what social and economic costs and benefits ensued.
• May 11, 2010
• 12:15

  Conference Season 2010

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  CentreForum will be holding events at the conferences of the Liberal Democrats, Labour and Conservatives this year.

• 12:15

  Conference Season 2010

   » ‎ Home

  

  CentreForum will be holding events at the conferences of the Liberal Democrats, Labour and Conservatives this year.

• May 10, 2010
• 11:11

  Credit where it's due: making QE work for the real economy

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  Giles Wilkes
  March 2010

  ‘Quantitative easing’ was meant to boost private spending by pumping billions of pounds into the economy. But CentreForum argues that it has done little for ordinary people and businesses. Without serious reform, it will prove powerless in the face of a second dip into recession.

  In early 2009, with interest rates at 0.5 per cent and the deficit hitting record levels, ‘QE’ was the only policy left for fighting the recession. By trying to increase the money supply directly, the Bank of England aimed to increase bank lending, lift up asset prices and restore confidence. In many ways it worked. Banks that were almost insolvent are now recording large profits, the equity market has soared, and house prices have reversed a frightening decline. It has clearly helped the government to issue a huge amount of debt relatively cheaply.

   

• March 18, 2010
• 15:58

  A Lib Con Trick?

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  Julian Astle
  March 2010

  The Conservatives have been talking up their chances of doing a deal with the Liberal Democrats if the general election fails to deliver them a majority. Conservative shadow business secretary Ken Clarke has even suggested that “Nick Clegg is a conservative”. David Cameron meanwhile regularly describes himself as a “liberal” and has claimed that on a range of policy issues, “there’s barely a cigarette paper between us”.

  But according to a new report from CentreForum, the liberal think tank, the two parties’ similarities are being wildly overstated, as are the chances of them working together in a formal coalition if the Tories are returned as the largest party in a hung parliament.