Saturday 20th - Wednesday 24th September 2008 

Our policy roundtables are the format in which we undertake most of our substantive policy discussions at the party conferences. Expert participants debate emerging policy trends and ideas and interrogate key players in an invited forum of their peers.

In 2008 we will be exploring a range of key current and emerging areas of policy, from tackling health inequalities and overcoming worklessness, to improving the supply of skills and encouraging higher standards of corporate accountability.

The following policy roundtables are confirmed to go ahead at this stage. Participation will be by invitation only, if you are interested in attending one or more seminars, or for any other enquiries relating to Fabian policy roundtables at Labour conference, contact Ed Wallis (please note that Tim Gore has now left the Fabian Society). 

Energy Futures 2030: Secure and Sustainable Supplies?
with Malcolm Wicks MP, Minister for Energy; Maria McCaffery, CEO British Wind Energy Association; Nicola Pitts, National Grid.  Chair, Alan Whitehead MP 

Kindly supported by 

What are standards for? Can we ensure educational rigour and inclusivity? 
with Jim Knight MP; Professor Alan Dyson, Manchester University; Greg Watson, Cambridge Assessment. Chair, Louise Bamfield (Fabian Society)

Kindly supported by

A Public Health Service: How can preventive strategies narrow the gap?
with Dawn Primarolo MP, Minister for Public Health; David Taylor, Professor of Pharmaceutical and Public Health Policy, School of Pharmacy; Professor Alan Maryon-Davis, Faculty of Public Health; Saranjit Sihota, Diabetes UK. Chair, Anne Campbell, Fabian Society Executive.

Kindly supported by

Fairer and More Accountable Global Markets: How do we get the corporate accountability we need?
with Baroness Shriti Vadera, Minister for Business; Caroline Rees, advisor to John Ruggie, UN Special Envoy on Business and Human Rights; Martin Day, Senior Partner, Leigh, Day and Co. 

Kindly supported by

and

Tackling Inactivity: How can worklessness be overcome amongst the hardest to reach?
with Rt Hon Stephen Timms MP, Minister for Employment and Welfare Reform; David Coats, Associate Director, Work Foundation; Jeanette Faherty, CEO, Avanta.  Chair, Hannah Jameson, IPA

Kindly supported by  

On Demand? How can we best match skills to the needs of the economy?
with David Lammy MP, Minister for Skills; Annette Thomas, Oil and Gas UK; Simon Bartley, UK Skills.  Chair, Tim Horton, Fabian Society.

Kindly supported by 

Building Sustainable Communities: Can housing policy tackle worklessness?
with Caroline Flint MP, Minister for Housing and Planning; Robin Lawler, Chief Executive, Northwards Housing; Fran Parry, ERSA.  Chair, James Gregory, Fabian Society 

Kindly supported by

and 

Growth and Global Poverty: Can business and civil society work together?
with Gareth Thomas MP, Minister for International Development; Michael Izza, Chief Executive, ICAEW; Paul Collier, Director, Centre for the Study of African Economies, Oxford University; Chair, Glenys Kinnock MEP

Kindly supported by

and

Health Inequalities to 2020: The Manifesto Challenge
with Rt Hon Alan Johnson MP, Secretary of State for Health; Julian Le Grand, LSE; Yvonne Roberts (Young Foundation); Chair, Dr Howard Stoate MP

Kindly supported by

Teaching Citizenship: Should it be learned as well as earned?
with Michael Wills, Minister for the Justice Department; Professor Bob Fryer, Natioal Director for Widening Participation in Learning, Department of Health; Dawn Butler MP. Chair, Sadiq Khan MP

Kindly supported by

Beyond the North-South Divide: Where next for regional governance?
with Hazel Blears, Secretary of State, Communities and Local Government; Chris Leslie, Chairman, National Local Government Network; Steven Broomhead, Northwest Regional Development Agency. Chair, Tim Horton, Fabian Society.

Kindly supported by

Lifelong Learning: The Next Decade Agenda
with Rt Hon John Denham MP, Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills; James Rees, Head of Education and Training, USDAW; Professor Les Ebdon, Vice Chancellor, University of Bedfordshire. Chair, Mary Creagh MP.

Kindly supported by

Building Sustainable Regions: The Next Decade Agenda
with Rosie Winterton MP, Minister for Transport and Minister for Yorkshire and the Humber; Neil Scales, Mersey Travel;

Kindly supported by

and

Excellence for all: Can primary care reach those at risk?
with Ben Bradshaw MP, Minister for Health Services; Dr John Revill, Heart UK; Sally Bradley, Manchester Primary Care Trust.  Chair, John Carvel, Guardian Social Affairs Editor.

Kindly supported by

Community Responses to Climate Change
with Iain Wright MP, Minister at DCLG; Helen Gresty, NESTA; Stuart Housden, RSPB. Chair, Rushanara Ali.

Kindly supported by

and

The Future of Public Services: Can they be local, responsive and fair?
with John Healey MP, Minister  for Local Government; David Albury, Innovation Unit; Paul O'Brien, Chief Executive, Association of Public Service Excellence. Chair, Patrick Diamond, EHRC

Kindly supported by