25/06/2010

PM Seeks Idea On Spending Cuts

Public sector workers are being asking for their ideas on how the Government can 'do more for less'.

The Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister have written to representatives of the sector as part of the spending Review set out in this week's Budget.

They have launched a 'Spending Challenge' aimed at engaging the country in thinking about public services and how they are provided.

The first phase of the challenge aims to harness the expertise of those working on the 'front line', including NHS workers, police officers and civil servants and a website has been set up where they can submit their ideas.

In the letter, the PM and Deputy PM said: "We want you to help us find those savings, so we can cut public spending in a way that is fair and responsible.

"You work on the frontline of public services. You know where things are working well, where the waste is, and where we can re-think things so that we get better services for less money."

All serious ideas will be considered by the Cabinet Office and Treasury and passed to departments to consider how they might be implemented. A summary of the submissions will be published later this year.

The public sector phase of the Spending Challenge will end on 9 July and the process will then be opened up to the general public.

(BMcC/GK)

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