Soap Box Part I

I was reading PC Bloggs again today and found myself ranting about modern government's obsession for reform.

I got a great book for Christmas called "Governing Britain Since 1945". I haven't read the book all the way through yet (The fact that I find it so interesting proves that I must be getting old!) but there is a definite theme of two seperate ages of Britain since 1945.

The second age started in 1979, a notable year for two reasons:

1. I was born
2. Thatcher came into power.

Since the second age began (I'm trying to make this sound a bit like 'Lord of the Rings') there has been a rapid increase in the rate of change of laws, working practices etc. There was a relatively sedate period during the Major years but Blair is as bad if not worse as Her.

When the whole 'joining the Euro' debate started, Gordon Brown announced that he wanted the single currency to pass five tests. It never did, most likely because there was no way of actually measuring these mythical five tests.

But it does bring up a good point. If I ruled the country I would like my administration to have a set of tests in place for any new legislation we plan to introduce:

1. Do we need it? - A solution is for a problem not vice-versa. ID cards are a good example of this. Yes they could be fairly useful but it's an enormous expense for something the Government seems to be unable to justify.

2. Do we already have it? - A classic example of this is the law against using a mobile phone whilst driving. The Police were already able to knick you for 'Driving without due care and consideration'.

3. Can we enforce it? - The Hunting Act 2004 was a very popular act when it was brought in but was somewhat pointless as the police have no way to effectively enforce it. If the dogs are out on a 'Drag Hunt' and catch a scent of a live fox, how exactly are the Police supposed to:
a)Know?
b)Stop them?
c)Prove it in court?

4. Have we piloted it successfully? - Rather than trying to computerise the entire NHS, it might have made more sense to start with one hospital and build up from there. Although pilot studies are carried out, they have little bearing on whether or not the changes are fully implemented. The Poll Tax is the ultimate example of this. Piloted in Scotland where it failed but was then brought in nationally anyway.

5. Is this the easiest way? - My personal favourite. You should always look for the simplest solution to your problem. Why bother with a very expensive and incredibly complex vehicle tracking system when fuel tax will have roughly the same effect but with much less effort/cost?
Working tax credits are notorious for their complexity and errors. There must be a simpler way of calculating them?
NASA spent millions of dollars developing a pen that worked in space only to discover that the Russians used a pencil!

6. Is it fit for purpose? - Trying to incentivise the Police force or the NHS sounds like a good idea but:
The core mission of the Police is to uphold the law, not produce good stats.
The sole purpose of the NHS is to heal the sick not stick to their budget (which is undermined everytime Tessa Jowell opens her gob about Herceptin).
Likewise Public Transport is about getting people to work not being profitable. Schools are for giving children an education not teaching them how to pass a test and roadside emergency telephones are there in the event of an emergency, they aren't meant to be in constant use.

On a seperate note, Blair always talks about the public sector being more like the private sector but no private company carries on with something if it's loosing more money than it's worth. Whereas the list is as long as your arm for the UK government (past and present):

Millenium Dome
Eurofighter
Jubilee Line Extension
SA80
Westland Apache
NHS Computer System
CSA Computer System
Inland Revenue Computer System

and coming soon...

National ID Card
National Vehicle Tracking System
2012 Olympics

I'll get off my soapbox for now.