摘要: The notion of the ‘enabling state’ gained currency in UK during 1990s as an alternative to ‘providing’ or welfare state. It reflected process contracting out NHS and compulsory competitive tendering (CCT) local government 1980s, but was also associated with developments health, social care education particular. creation internal market purchaser–provider split appeared transfer ‘ownership’ services increasingly providers – hospitals, General Practitioners (GPs) schools. mixed economy that stimulated by 1990 Community Care Act offer authorities opportunity enable non state community. new service charters were part enablement because they offered users more influence provision. This article examines how far enabled assesses extent which Labour’s policies enhance reject favour direct