The Public Sector Flashcards
What is the Public Sector?
Services and agencies that are run by the government on our behalf.
What are 3 key features of the Public Sector?
OWNED by the government on our behalf.
CONTROLLED (decision making) by the government departments at UK, Scottish and Local levels.
FINANCED by the taxes paid by individuals and organisations.
What is 4 examples of the Public Sector?
UK Government
Scottish Parliament
Local Government (eg Aberdeen City Council)
Public Corporations (BBC)
Describe the UK Government?
Run UK-wide services and agencies such as defence and immigration.
Makes laws (legislation) for all of the UK to follow.
Collect some taxes such as VAT and Corporation Tax.
Describe the Scottish Parliament?
Use developed powered to run services and agencies such as NHS, Police, transport, housing and agriculture.
Collect some taxes such as Income Tax.
Describe the Local Government?
Run local services such as school, 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.
Describe the Public Corporation?
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 5 Aims and Objectives of the Public Sector?
Make the best use of funds
Quality of service
Raise revenue
Cut costs
Improve infrastructure
What does the aim, make the best use of funds mean?
Spending taxpayers’ money wisely to get the MOST VALUE.
What does the aim, quality of service mean?
To provide a HIGH QUALITY service to the community/users.
What does the aim, raise revenue mean?
To INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF FUNDS GENERATED (eg by raising texts).
What does the aim, cut costs mean?
To REDUCE SPENDING ON PUBLIC SERVICES (eg don’t fund a new police initiative).
What does the aim, improve infrastructure mean?
To DEVELOPING AND BUILD NEW ROADS, RAIL LINKS AND CYCLE PATHS.
