Last week the Accounts Commission warned of a risk to the quality of the trading standards service provided by councils.

BBC: Councils setting out budget plans

The union Unison said it was concerned about standards and quality of service.

BBC: England

He said members were concerned the contract was awarded too cheaply, and it would be difficult for an organisation to double the service provided for the same cost and still meet quality standards.

BBC: England

The East of England Ambulance Service failed to meet standards in care and welfare in a recent Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection.

BBC: East of England Ambulance Service creates new posts

The aim of the visit was to check whether they had taken action to meet essential standards in the management of medicines, and assessing and monitoring the quality of service provision.

BBC: Eastbourne District General Hospital

As increasing numbers of consumers become used to the quality of service offered by the best web retailers and service providers, their willingness to accept slum standards in the public sector is coming under strain.

ECONOMIST: A survey of government and the Internet

The reason too many of the public services we inherited were stuck in the past, in terms of choice and quality - and the two or even more tiers of service they offered - was because their funding, infrastructure and service standards were stuck in the past too.

BBC: NEWS | UK | Politics | Full text: Blair on public services