Dated May 2007. On cover: Departmental report. The health and personal social services programmes

Dated May 2007

Dated May 2007

The Healthcare Commission is the independent watchdog for England. Its function is to assess and report on the quality and safety of services provide by the NHS and independent sector. This is the fifth and final annual 'State of Healthcare Report', as the Commission is to be replaced by the Care Quality Commission on 1 April 2009. The report is mainly about the findings for the financial year 2007-08, but it also reflects on the progress that has been made in healthcare over the past five years. The report presents six pictures of the state of healthcare: for mothers; for children and young people; for people with mental health needs; for people with a learning disability; for people needing urgent and hospital care; and of the support offered to enhance people's health and wellbeing in the community. The Commission highlights improvements, with better use and management of resources in the NHS, falling death rates from cancer and heart disease, progress in public health matters such as smoking, a greater attention to safety. Concerns remain, however: a variable picture of quality in maternity services, mental health services and urgent care; commissioning of healthcare; meeting the needs of the more vulnerable in society; children's services; care for older people. Further improvement is needed to ensure that patients really are at the centre of care, are able to make meaningful choices, be fully involved in decisions and have the information they need.

Dated May 2007

This report considers the work and expenditure plans of the Law Officers' Departments, covering the Attorney General's Office, Crown Prosecution Service, the Revenue and Customs Prosecution Office (formerly the Customs and Excise Prosecutions Office), the Serious Fraud Office, the Treasury Solicitor's Department and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate.

Dated May 2007. With correction slip dated May 2007

This annual report details the work and expenditure of the Department for International Development (DFID) during the period April 2006 to March 2007, working as part of the wider international effort to tackle world poverty and promote the sustainable development of low-income countries. The report includes chapters on: reducing poverty in Africa and Asia and progress towards the Millennium Development Goals; making the multilateral system and bilateral aid more effective; fragile states, conflicts and crises; environment, climate change and natural resources; and working with others on policies beyond aid. The assessment of progress is structured around the DFID Public Service Agreement (PSA) targets.

Exploring how Tony Blair and New Labour changed British politics, policy, governance and foreign affairs, this volume stands as a key actor on the world and domestic stage, delving into Blair's foreign policy legacy, with empahsis on the Iraq War and Anglo-American relations.