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FDA General Secretary Dave Penman, responding to today's Spending Review announcement.

"Whilst these budget cuts have been extensively trailed over the last few months, the sheer scale of reductions in public spending announced today is no less eye watering.

"Despite months - if not years - of preparation, the Government has once again failed to demonstrate, to both public servants and to taxpayers, how it will cut resources so dramatically while ensuring public services are maintained.

"The Chancellor's announcement today means that many departments are facing cuts of around 50% over a decade. Efficiencies of this scale cannot be achieved through the usual salami-slicing approach favoured by the Treasury and Chancellor. 

"Unless public services are transformed, these budget cuts can only result in the decimation of key public services.

"The question has to be asked: how can the billions of pounds of capital investment announced by the Chancellor be delivered efficiently by a civil service stripped of resources and people?"

Notes for editors

1. The FDA is the trade union for the UK's senior public servants and professionals.
FDA membership includes more than 18,000 senior civil servants, Government policy advisors, prosecutors, diplomats, tax professionals, economists, solicitors and other professionals working across Government and the NHS.

2. More about the FDA's 'New Government: New Deal' campaign can be found at www.fda.org.uk/New-Government-New-Deal

3. The FDA (formerly the First Division Association) should be referred to simply as "The FDA" and can be described as "the senior public servants' union". 

4. The FDA can be found on Twitter @FDA_union and at www.fda.org.uk.

5. For further information contact:

• Dave Penman, FDA General Secretary, tel: 020 7401 5555 or 07967 503827.
• Kay Hender, Communications Manager, tel: 020 7401 5555 or 07980 700747