Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Marco Longhi and Laura Trott

Tuesday 14th November 2023 Commons Chamber

[Alex Cunningham (Stockton North) (Lab)]

15. What steps he is taking to help ensure value for money in public spending.

[The Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Laura Trott)]

My hon. Friend is rightly very focused on making sure that every single pound of taxpayers’ money is spent wisely, and I can assure him that the Government share that goal. In June, the previous Chief Secretary to the Treasury launched the public sector productivity programme, and we will provide an update at the autumn statement.

[Marco Longhi]

Estimates show that the public sector today is 7.5% less productive than in the environment just before covid. Does the Minister agree that this could possibly be down to a continued more liberal working from home ethic? How much is this costing the taxpayer?

[Laura Trott]

My hon. Friend is right that public sector productivity must be improved. That is exactly what the review is looking at and what we will address. I look forward to talking to him more about it in due course.