The Public Sector Flashcards
What is the public sector?
Services and agencies run by the government on our behalf.
What are the key features of the public sector?
Owned by the government on our behalf.
Controlled (decision making) by government departments at UK, Scottish and Local levels.
Financed by taxes paid by individuals and organisations.
What are the four public sector organisations?
UK Government run and controlled
Scottish Parliament run and controlled
Local Government run and controlled
Public Corporations
What are the key facts about the UK government?
Run UK-wide services and agencies such as defence and immigration.
Make laws (legislation) for all of the UK to follow.
Collect some taxes such as VAT and Corporation Tax.
What are the key facts about Scottish Parliament?
Use devolved powers to run services and agencies such as NHS, Police, transport, housing and agriculture.
Collect some taxes such as Income Tax.
What are the key facts about Local Government?
Run local services such as schools, parking and road repairs.
Run local activities such as leisure centres, swimming pools and golf courses.
Collect some taxes such as Council tax and Business Rates.
What are the key facts about Public Corporations?
Business organisations owned by the Government on our behalf.
The BBC is the only Public Corporation left- it raises funds through the TV Licence and has a Charter to ensure certain public aims are met.
What are the aims of the public sector?
Make the best use of funds
Quality of service
Raise revenue
Cut costs
Improve infrastructure
Describe make best use of funds.
Spending taxpayers’ money wisely to get the most value.
Describe quality of service.
To provide a high quality service to the community/users.
Describe raise revenue.
To increase the amount of funds generated (e.g. by raising taxes)
Describe cut costs.
To reduce spending on public services (e.g. don’t fund a new Police initiative)
Describe improve infrastructure.
To develop and build new roads, rail links and cycle paths.
