Choice can produce better and more efficient services, but it must be introduced with care, argues Michael Burton

The argument about the cost and value of choice in public choice continues to rage among Cabinet ministers. Some argue that the concept of choice is an illusion, and that what matters is improving services, even if they are a monopoly. Others maintain that the public, as consumers, expect choice in their public services, just as they do among private suppliers. Individual choice can also clash with the collective needs of a community, as promoted by the local authority.