It is perhaps surprising that there is no common code for public service governance
to provide guidance across the complex and diverse world of public services,
which are provided by the public sector and a range of other agencies. The Good
Governance Standard for Public Services addresses this issue head on. It builds on the
Nolan principles5 for the conduct of individuals in public life, by setting out six core
principles of good governance for public service organisations. It shows how these
should be applied if organisations are to live up to the Standard and provides a basis
for the public to challenge sub-standard governance. I hope that the publication of the
Standard will encourage public bodies to review their own effectiveness, and that it will
provide commissioners and regulators of public services with a common framework for
assessing good governance practice.