Reports highlights privatisation danger

(18/09/08) Using private companies to provide public services is exposing all Britons to enormous financial risks, warns UNISON.

The union is calling on the government to stem the seismic shift toward increased privatisation, following the publication today of a new report examining the impact of the £79 billion 'public services industry'.

"This hard-hitting report shows that the Treasury is at risk of having tens of billions of pounds of liabilities heaped on it, because of the way public services are now delivered and funded," said UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis.

The report reveals how the trend increases the government's financial exposure to the credit crunch and presents a potential personal catastrophe for vulnerable service users.

It is time for the government to ditch its big business interests and instead focus on policies that will strengthen public services, Mr Prentis said.

Download the report:

The rise of the 'public services industry' [PDF]

UNISON press release

More on UNISON's Positively Public campaign

Bookmark, print, post, feed or send to a friend:

Print version

RSS feeds