Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Ben Gummer and Geoffrey Clifton-Brown

Wednesday 22nd March 2017 Commons Chamber

[Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (The Cotswolds) (Con)]

7. What steps he is taking to support Government Departments in delivering efficiency savings.

[The Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General (Ben Gummer)]

The Government are conducting an efficiency review to deliver savings and embed an efficiency culture into government. The Chief Secretary and I are leading the review together. Cabinet Office functions provide support, expertise and assurance, helping Departments to work together to cut waste and inefficiency.

[Geoffrey Clifton-Brown]

What progress is being made with the single departmental delivery plans across every Government Department? How will they align cost savings and Government policy initiatives more closely to deliver our manifesto?

[Ben Gummer]

The House, especially those interested in plans, will be pleased to know that this is the first time in the history of Government plans that we have done a second iteration of a plan—that is an exciting point. We are aligning the plans with the efficiency review, which means that, amazingly, we are going to plan government with money at the same time.