Government Beyond Whitehall

Abstract

Media discussion of our political system is focused on the debates of Westminster and the intrigues of Whitehall. But there is a world of government and politics beyond the elite circles of government ministers and civil servants, a world of sub-central government. The institutions of sub-central government include local authorities, the NHS and various quasi-governmental agencies (QGAs). They have a profound effect on everyday life, not only through their provision of an extensive range of public services but also through their economic impact as large-scale employers, landlords and spenders of public money. During the 1980s sub-central government has experienced a number of major changes and looks set for a profound restructuring on entering the 1990s. This chapter first examines the basic features of the institutions of sub-central government; second, the process of change and restructuring that is occurring; and third, different explanations of the driving forces behind and likely impact of these shifts.