Louise urges residents to have their say on Government spending

As part of its Spending Review, the Government is setting up a public engagement process – the Spending Challenge – to both build public understanding of the difficult decisions that are having to be made and to generate ideas as to how savings can be realised.

The Spending Challenge has two phases. Last Thursday, the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister launched the first phase: a government-wide engagement programme through which they are asking our six million public sector workers to share their ideas on how to save money and deliver more for less. This first public sector phase will last for two weeks, until Friday 9th July, and all public sector workers are being encouraged to get involved through asking them the key question: how can we re-think services to deliver more for less? In particular:

• Is the activity essential to meet Government priorities?
• Does the Government need to fund this activity?
• Does the activity provide substantial economic value?
• Can the activity be targeted to those most in need?
• How can the activity be provided at lower cost?
• How can the activity be provided more effectively?
• Can the activity be provided by a non-state provider or by citizens, wholly or in partnership?
• Can non-state providers be paid to carry out the activity according to the results they achieve?
• Can local bodies as opposed to central government provide the activity?

Ideas should be submitted online via:
www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/spendingchallenge

The second phase of the Spending Challenge will involve a wider public consultation, and the Government will release details in due course. #

Louise Bagshawe said:
“The biggest challenge our country faces is dealing with the record Government debt, yet I know many public sector workers in Corby and East Northamptonshire are frustrated by inefficiencies and waste, when they have so many excellent ideas of their own for saving money. After all, it is the people working at the frontline of our public services who really know best what works well, where there is waste, and what we can do to get better services for less money.”