Working From Home: Public Sector Productivity Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Working From Home: Public Sector Productivity

Lord Sherbourne of Didsbury Excerpts
Wednesday 23rd October 2024

(1 month ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Livermore Portrait Lord Livermore (Lab)
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No, there would not. One of the benefits of working from home is a much more efficient use of office space. It has a beneficial impact on capital in terms of releasing office space for more productive use, and that is currently what is under way.

Lord Sherbourne of Didsbury Portrait Lord Sherbourne of Didsbury (Con)
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My Lords, how does the Minister measure productivity in the public sector?

Lord Livermore Portrait Lord Livermore (Lab)
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There are a variety of measures, as I understand it. The ONS has a fairly standard measure. However, the noble Lord is absolutely right that it is much harder to measure productivity in the public sector than it is in the private sector. Measures that the Government are undertaking, such as increasing the number of GP appointments or reducing waiting lists, increase public sector output and therefore productivity.