The UK Government faces increased pressure to provide health and social care services more cheaply yet at a high level of quality. Increased private sector involvement in the funding and delivery of services is seen as a major part of the solution. When assessing the relative merits of approaches to private versus public sector provision, risk may be an important differentiator. This article explores some key points of comparison on risk issues and builds a framework for the assessment of risk-related issues. A twin case study approach is adopted: a care home for older people and a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) hospital. The analysis suggests that in the case of both private financing and of private delivery of health and social care services, the increased involvement of the private sector necessitates rigorous risk assessment and management.

This paper investigates risk management structures in organisations and how these comply with best practice in corporate governance. We carried out an exploratory study (in 2001) of four large public and private sector organisations in the United Kingdom. Interviews were conducted with risk managers and internal auditors to ascertain the extent to which emerging structures complied with the Turnbull Guidance to the Combined Code. We found that structures are in place to deliver a sound system of internal control including risk management. Internal auditors and risk managers are both involved but their respective roles are often not suf ciently well de ned to avoid overlaps and gaps. We also found that several of the organisations studied rely on external auditors to conduct the required annual review of risk management.

Purpose -This paper aims to put forward for consideration new insights into the creation of "second order" change in local government. Design/methodology/approach -In-depth interviews were carried out in five local authorities to investigate risk management (RM) processes. Interviewees were guided by, but not limited to, outline questions to avoid imposing any preconceived theories about the structure and range of RM processes. Findings -The extent to which RM was found to be embedded was unexpected, particularly in contrast with observed reactions to previous initiatives. A framework to describe the observed phenomenon is found in the concept of first-order and second-order change and a possible explicatory concept in Hood's analysis of administrative design. Part of the explanation may also lie in the alignment of the initiative aims with the interest of front-line staff.Research limitations/implications -The reported phenomenon is based on a small sample, as is normal in in-depth case study research. Further empirical work is required. Practical implications -If the changes are found to have taken place generally, it may be possible to apply some of the attributes of RM to future initiatives. It may also be possible for individual organisations to build on RM successes in order to develop a "learning culture" which could have a beneficial effect in other areas. Originality/value -Changes in culture are notoriously difficult to achieve. The comparison of the effect of introducing corporate risk management with the effect of previous initiatives may provide some insight into ways of encouraging culture change.

The UK has had a long history of market provision of household insurance. Recent years, however, have seen a decline in the traditional insurance market distribution channels aimed at low-income and/or rented-sector households. The products, pricing and method of payment currently offered by insurers have exacerbated the exclusion of many in social housing from this important financial services product. Research suggests that only 50 per cent of people living in rented or local authority housing insure their contents, compared with 93 per cent of homeowners. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the degree to which tenants in public-sector housing participate in low-cost household insurance schemes promoted by their landlord and to assess the reasons behind this level of participation. This study suggests that, despite value-for-money schemes being available, the take-up rates by tenants are low and that the providers of social housing need to be more vigorous and imaginative in their promotion of low-cost insurance schemes if this form of financial exclusion is to be tackled successfully.

Local authorities in the UK have lagged behind other sectors in developing a sector-wide approach to the risk management aspects of corporate governance. The governance framework published in 2001, however, goes further than the private sector combined code in its reporting requirements. This paper reviews the guidance documents issued by statutory and professional bodies and evaluates their effectiveness in assisting local authorities to meet corporate governance requirements for risk management. This analysis is supplemented by a study of the risk management structures and procedures in five UK local authorities in a research project funded by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance Accountants through the auspices of the British Accounting Association Public Sector Accounting Special Interest Group. Based on a number of in-depth individual interviews this study notes several areas of weakness in both the guidance offered and the policies adopted by local authorities.