Programme
********************************************
This conference took place in April 2004. If you would like to order copies of the speaker's slide presentations, you can still do this using the booking page here.
********************************************
Day One - Session One
Definitions, History & Context
This first session places vouchers in the broad context of public service funding and administration. What do we mean by vouchers, smartcards, electronic purse and per capita funding mechanisms? Have they worked in the past and why are they so topical today?
9:45 - 11:00
Introduction & Context
. Why Choice & Voice dominate debate on public service reform . Can vouchers, smartcards and per-capita funding of public service combine efficiency with equity?
. Overview of government use of vouchers in Europe and the US.
. Definitions of vouchers, smartcards & per- capita funding.
Philip Collins, Director, Social Market Foundation
Keynote Speech
David Willetts, MP,
Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Public Perceptions & Attitudes
. What do people think about choice in public services?
. Review and analysis of recent opinion poll research
Andrew Collinge, Associate Director MORI Social Research Institute
11:00 - 11:30 Coffee & Exhibition
Day One - Session Two
Policy Dilemmas & Trade-offs
Does choice have a downside? Central to a voucher/smart card based system, is the exercise of choice by the recipient of the subsidy.But important political, ethical and social questions remain: Are they fair - will vouchers lead to two-tiered levels of provision? What are the potential unintended consequences of vouchers?
11:30 - 1:00pm, Chaired by Philip Collins, Director, Social Market Foundation
Education - Has Milwaukee Squared the Circle?
. An overview and analysis of the Milwaukee education voucher.
. Should the left embrace the Milwaukee education voucher?
Caroline M Hoxby, Professor of Economics, Harvard University
Does Choice Automatically Compromise Equity?
. Can vouchers be fair, or do they exacerbate existing inequalities?
. Overview of the equity and outcome issues raised by vouchers
Professor Harry Brighouse University of Wisconsin
Health - the Swedish Patient Voucher
. Analysis of the Swedish patient voucher scheme, launched in 1990
. Impact on choice, equity and access across all social classes.
Johan Hjertqvist, Director Timbro Health Policy Institute, Sweden
Question & Answer Session, Panel of previous speakers
1.00 - 2:00 Lunch & Exhibition
Day One - Session Three
Lessons from Abroad
Voucher schemes are relatively novel in the UK, but well established abroad. The US operates over 60 voucher schemes, including the $40 billion food stamp and child nutrition vouchers. In France and Germany local authorities use vouchers to subsidise a range of innovative public policies.
2:00 - 3:40, Chaired by Steven Stanbury, Voucher Industry Consultant
European Union Policy & Activity
. Overview of the EU's views on vouchers and per capita funding
. Description of existing EU programmes and future policy
Speaker tbc.
Government Vouchers Across Europe
. Overview of European government voucher programmes
. European trends in government voucher usage and technology
Ivan Semenoff, Chief Executive Sodexho Pass International
Keynote Speech:
Food Stamps & Welfare Food Vouchers in the United States
Eric M. Bost
Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition & Consumer Services, U.S. Dept of Agriculture
US Voucher Administration: Making vouchers work for governments & consumers
. Experience and trends from the US Loren Bell, Director Health Systems Research, USA
Question & Answer Session, Panel of previous speakers 3:40 - 4:10
Coffee & Exhibition
Day One - Session Four
New Smart Cards & Vouchers
This session examines some innovative smart card and voucher applications: What next for local authority e-purse projects? Why has the UK Deptartment of Health decided to launch a new welfare/nutrition food voucher later in 2004?
4:10 - 5:40
Will Central Government Follow the Local Lead?
. Local authorities are ahead of central government in realising the benefits of smart cards to fund locally subsidised services.
. What can central government learn from Town Halls?
Alan Leibert, Director, ALCO Consulting
The National Smartcard Project
. What is the National Smartcard Project and what did it achieve?
. Overview of the e-purse, smart cards future developments.
Michael Gates, Manager The National Smartcard Project
Case Study: A New UK Healthy Eating Voucher
. 'Healthy Start' will replace the current sixty- year old Milk Token payment for milk to low- income families with children under five.
. The new Healthy Start welfare/nutrition food voucher emerged from a wide-ranging policy review and will be launched in late 2004.
. Analysis of the policy making process leading to the implementation of the Department of Health's new voucher scheme.
Imogen Sharp, Head, Health Improvement & Prevention Unit, UK Department of Health
Day Two - Session Five
Voucher Politics
Two UK Government voucher schemes, nursery vouchers (1996), and asylum seeker vouchers (2000) were cancelled because of political opposition. Why the word voucher is one of the most controversial and pejorative words in the political lexicon. Who supports vouchers, who is opposed to them, and why? This session examines the politics of vouchers and the lessons to be learnt from failed schemes
9:30 - 11:00
Keynote Speeches
Rt. Hon. Stephen Byers, MP
Former Secretary of State for Transport
Case Study: Vouchers For Asylum Seekers
. Analysis of political opposition to the UK Home Office asylum seeker support voucher policy.
. Was it the voucher, the policy, or both that were opposed?
Maeve Sherlock, Chief Executive, The Refugee Council
PR, Presentation & Terminology
. Is voucher a negative term? Alternative descriptions
. Positive positioning getting your message across
Nick Wood-Dow, Executive Vice President, Chelgate
Question & Answer Session 11:00 - 11:30
Coffee & Exhibition
Day Two - Session Six
Efficiency & Deliverability?
A specialised industry supplies and manages the practical administration of various government voucher and smartcard schemes. Efficient, on-budget delivery is a pre-requisite for public policy makers. Industry specialists share their expertise.
11:30 - 1:00, Chaired by James Crabtree, The Work Foundation
Vouchers - Managing Security, Fraud & Leakage
. How to control "leakage", security, distribution and fraud issues
. Benefits of paper vouchers and analysis of future trends.
Rebecca Hart, BemroseBooth Security Printers
Smartcards & Electronic Benefit Transfers
. Definition, terminology and benefits to governments & consumers
. Examples of where cards have replaced paper, analysis of trends
. US government experience of electronic benefit transfer systems
Bob Bucceri, Former Chairman Electronic Benefit Transfer Industry Council (USA)
Case Study: Data Management Issues
. How to manage the vast quantities of confidential data involved in many government voucher and smartcard schemes. . Integration with government IT systems, examples and trends
Hilary Rogers, Director, EWA Ltd.
Question & Answer Session, Panel of previous speakers
1.00 - 2:00 Lunch & Exhibition
Day Two - Session Seven
Local Authorities Embrace Choice & Technology
This session examines the current situation and future potential for smart card and voucher schemes in local authorities. Speakers will explore future trends and new technologies in the local government sector.
2:00 - 3:30
Local Choice & Local Voice
. Choice and voice in a local authority context
. Implications and future trends
Tony Travers, Director, Greater London Group, London School of Economics
Case Study: The Bracknell Edge Card Project
. The Bracknell Edge Card is one of the most sophisticated local authority smart card projects in the UK.
. Evaluation of the Bracknell Local Authority Edge Card project.
. Current and future smart card applications: school meals, transport subsidies, school transport, car parks, e-voting?
Cllr. Paul Bettison, Leader of Bracknell District Council & e-Government Champion, Local Government Association
Case Study: The French "Culture Smartcard"
. Analysis of the Rhone Alps Regional smartcard scheme
. Culture vouchers for cinemas, bookstores, theatres and museums
Didier Sandoz, Special Projects Director for the Rhone Alps Smartcard Project
Question & Answer Session, Panel of previous speakers 3:30 - 4:00
Coffee & Exhibition
Day Two - Session Eight
Policy Development & Trends
Where next for vouchers, e-purse and per-capita funding? What public services are being considered for voucher/smartcard schemes now, and what subsidies could be voucherised in the future?
4:00 - 5:20
Future Trends - Panel Discussion
. Which central and local government programmes might incorporate voucher and/ or smartcard solutions?
Dr. David Everett, CEO of Microexpert and technical editor for Smart Card News.
Philip Collins, Social Market Foundation
Tony Travers, London School of Economics
Steven Stanbury, Voucher Industry Consultant
5:20 Close of Conference
|
