Cabinet Office

Debate between John Glen and Scott Benton

Monday 11th December 2023 Ministerial Corrections

[Scott Benton (Blackpool South) (Ind)]

What steps are the Government taking to reduce the number of civil servants in order to achieve value for money for the taxpayer?

[John Glen]

I am looking carefully at where we are with the plans for this year—obviously, there is a half-way point in that cycle—and at what policies we can put in place. At the beginning of October, the Chancellor announced a freeze on recruitment.

[Official Report, 23 November 2023, Vol. 741, c. 450.]

Letter of correction from the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, the right hon. Member for Salisbury (John Glen).

An error has been identified in my response to the hon. Member for Blackpool South (Scott Benton).

The correct response should have been:

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between John Glen and Scott Benton

Thursday 23rd November 2023 Commons Chamber

[Scott Benton (Blackpool South) (Ind)]

What steps are the Government taking to reduce the number of civil servants in order to achieve value for money for the taxpayer?

[John Glen]

I am looking carefully at where we are with the plans for this year—obviously, there is a half-way point in that cycle—and at what policies we can put in place. At the beginning of October, the Chancellor announced a freeze on recruitment. I will be looking at what we need to do now to ensure that, as we move into future financial years, we use the benefits of efficiencies that exist and different ways of delivering services, which we can learn from across the globe and the private sector, so that we get value for money for all those who are employed and do a good job in the civil service.

Public Sector Pay

Debate between John Glen and Scott Benton

Thursday 13th July 2023 Commons Chamber

[John Glen]

I do not accept virtually anything that he said. What I do accept is that the whole of the world is dealing with massive inflation pressures, and if we look across the continent of Europe, we see very similar figures. Of course, they differ in some respects, but the Government are determined to bring inflation down, and today’s decisions are another contribution on that journey to halve inflation this year.

[Scott Benton (Blackpool South) (Ind)]

Millions of our hard-working public servants will welcome the settlement, which is fair both to them and, crucially, to the taxpayer. Can the Minister update the House on what steps he will be taking to eliminate public sector waste to ensure that the settlements are sustainable for the taxpayer?

[John Glen]

The first step today has been to ensure that we are not borrowing any more to make the settlement work. The productivity review that will take place in the coming days and weeks leading up to the autumn statement will be a key element of that. I have not wanted to set a target for that, because I will be looking everywhere to find better ways of spending taxpayers’ money to ensure that we deliver the services and commitments we set out at the spending review in the most efficient and effective way.