9:00

REGISTRATION; EXHIBITION; TEA AND COFFEE (Foyer)

9:30

INTRODUCTION AND WELCOME
(Oliver Thompson Lecture Theatre)
Martin McIvor – Catalyst

9:45

KEYNOTE ADDRESS
(Oliver Thompson Lecture Theatre)
Colin Leys (Emeritus Professor, Queen’s University, and author of Market-Driven Politics: Neoliberal Democracy and the Public Interest)

10:15

OPENING PLENARY:
PUBLIC SERVICES & THE THIRD TERM
(Oliver Thompson Lecture Theatre)
Douglas Alexander MP (Minister for Trade, FCO/DTI and former chair of the Public Service Forum)
Philip Cullum (Deputy Chief Executive, National Consumer Council)
Kevin Curran (General Secretary, GMB)
Rt Hon Frank Dobson MP (former Secretary of State for Health)
Neal Lawson (Chair, Compass)
Chair: Catherine Needham (Catalyst)

11:45

TEA AND COFFEE (Foyer)

12:00

MORNING SESSIONS:
NEW CHALLENGES FOR PUBLIC SERVICES

These morning sessions will aim to explore the role of key public services in sustaining a fair and democratic society, and identify the challenges they face in the coming period as a result of government policies, economic pressures and social change.

A. THE CIVIL SERVICE (Oliver Thompson theatre)
Roger Seifert (Keele University)
Mark Serwotka (General Secretary, PCS)
David Walker (The Guardian)
Steven Weeks (Prospect)
chair: Catherine Needham (Catalyst)

B. THE HEALTH SERVICE (Room U214)
Jacky Davis (NHS Consultants Association)
Paul Evans (NHS Support Federation)
Karen Jennings (National Secretary, UNISON)
Martin Rathfelder (Socialist Health Association)
chair: Fiona Campbell (Democratic Health Network)

C. PRIMARY & SECONDARY EDUCATION (Room U215)
John Bangs (Assistant General Secretary, NUT)
Jerry Bartlett (Acting Deputy General Secretary, NASUWT)
Francis Beckett (New Statesman)
Malcolm Horne (Socialist Educational Association)
Sally Tomlinson (Oxford University)
chair: Hywel Lloyd (Office for Public Management; Labour PPC, Cities of London and Westminster)

D. FURTHER AND HIGHER EDUCATION (Room U316)
Patrick Ainley (University of Greenwich)
Kat Fletcher (National President, NUS)
Paul Mackney (General Secretary, NATFHE)
Margaret Morris (Socialist Educational Association)
chair: Ben Jackson (Catalyst)

E. SOCIAL HOUSING (Room U317)
Glynn Robbins (housing worker)
Janet Sillett (Local Government Information Unit)
Dexter Whitfield (Centre for Public Services)
Alan Walter (Defend Council Housing)
chair: Kelvin Hopkins MP (Catalyst National Council)

1:30

LUNCH (eating guide to be provided)

2:30

AFTERNOON SESSIONS: DEVELOPING A NEW AGENDA

The afternoon sessions will explore key themes and components of a new agenda for public services, applicable across the range of different service areas, around which public service users and public service employees could unite.

A. CHOICE OR VOICE – HOW CAN USERS BEST BE EMPOWERED? (Room U214)
Fiona Campbell (Democratic Health Network)
Brendan Martin (Public World and author of In the Public Interest? Privatisation and Public Sector Reform)
Janet Newman (Open University)
Graeme Trayner (Opinion Leader Research)
chair: Catherine Needham (Catalyst)

B. THE PUBLIC SERVICE WORKFORCE – OBSTACLES TO CHANGE OR DRIVERS OF IMPROVEMENT? (Room U215)
Steven Bevan (Work Foundation)
Mark Bramah (Association for Public Service Excellence)
Steven Weeks (Prospect)
chair: to be confirmed

C. BEYOND THE PUBLIC SECTOR – CAN NON-PROFIT ORGANISATIONS SAVE PUBLIC SERVICES? (Room U316)
Jack Dromey (Deputy General Secretary, TGWU)
Rajiv Prabhakar (London School of Economics)
David Rowland (School of Public Policy, UCL)
chair: Hywel Lloyd (Office for Public Management, PPC Cities of London and Westminster)

D. THE NEW LOCALISM – EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES OR UNDERMINING EQUALITY? (Room U317)
Jane Foot (Office for Public Management)
David Walker (The Guardian, author, In Praise of Centralism)
Heather Wakefield (National Secretary for Local Government, UNISON)
chair: to be confirmed

E. CAMPAIGNING FOR PUBLIC SERVICES – USERS AND EMPLOYEES IN ALLIANCE? (Foyer)
Catherine Howarth (TELCO)
Margie Jaffe (Positively Public Campaign, UNISON)
John Lister (London Health Emergency)
Dexter Whitfield (Centre for Public Services)
chair: to be confirmed

F. PUBLIC SERVICES AND GLOBALISATION – INTERNATIONAL PRESSURES, INTERNATIONALIST LESSONS (Oliver Thompson Lecture Theatre)
Wendy Caird (Public Services International)
David Price (Public Health Policy Unit, UCL)
Louise Richards (Chief Executive, War On Want)
chair: Dave Timms (World Development Movement)

3:45

TEA AND COFFEE (Foyer)

4:00

CLOSING PLENARY – TAKING THE AGENDA FORWARD
(Oliver Thompson Lecture Theatre)
Angela Eagle MP (New Wave Labour and author of A Deeper Democracy)
Billy Hayes (General Secretary, CWU)
Hilary Wainwright (editor, Red Pepper and author of Reclaim The State)
* other speakers to be confirmed
Chair: Rt Hon Michael Meacher MP (Vice Chair, Catalyst)

5:30

CONFERENCE CLOSE