Politicians are right to recognise public concern, though their enthusiasm for tackling the issue also owes to narrow electoral calculus.
They aim to recognise public servants working in areas ranging from children and young people to older people, housing and regeneration, and transport.
This year's Guardian Public Service Awards have now launched – with exciting new categories and a brand new award to recognise public leadership, to be voted for by members of the Public Leaders Network.
Both BT and Virgin Media both welcomed the changes with Virgin commenting that "where companies are already investing in world-class connections, government has recognised public money should not be used to build more networks".
He told MPs: "I make no apology for saying that I think in public life we should recognise public service – people who have worked hard, people who have contributed to our nation and to our government.
"If I had seen gay men in loving, stable and legally recognised public relationships of the sort my parents were in, I would have found it easier to come out.
The SSRB's awards had been implemented automatically since 2008 but the government urged MPs to recognise public feeling, at a time public sector workers on more than £21,000 were facing a two-year freeze.
They have begun to recognise public research as a strategic resource.
On the one hand, they recognise public policy as a critical element in shaping the opportunities for the profession and setting the parameters for its effectiveness [ 7].
