Today, George
Osborne called on the public to send him their very best ideas on
how to get more for less from our public services.
From today, anyone can go to the new Spending Challenge Public
engagement website and submit their ideas.
The Government believes that the people who use our schools,
hospitals, transport systems and other public services are the
best people to comment on how to get more out of our services,
while tackling the country’s record deficit.
This year Britain had the highest annual borrowing of any country
in the G20. The Government believes urgent action is needed to
tackle the deficit. Last month’s Budget set out a plan to balance
the books by 2014-15, including substantial reductions in public spending.
It is going to require tough decisions, and that means
approaching the Spending Review in a completely different way in
order to re-shape how we all benefit from and use public services.
In a period of just two weeks, the workers who deliver our public
services have sent in more than 60,000 suggestions.
From today, the whole country is being asked to send in ideas
during July and August, and to tell the Government what they think
about the ideas that are put forward.
Alongside the website, the Chancellor and other Ministers will be
taking part in seminars and visits across the country. They will
be listening to the public’s ideas in person and seeking views on
how public spending should be cut, while protecting the vulnerable
in our society.
Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne said:
‘We
are facing the challenge of a lifetime. After years of Labour
waste, there is now simply not enough money to go round.
That’s why I’m asking everyone across the country to send in
their ideas. We need to tackle this huge national debt and make
our economy stronger, and it’s your ideas that will help us do
that by improving public services and saving money. ‘
Notes for Editors
1.The link to the Spending Challenge website is : http://spendingchallenge.hm-treasury.gov.uk/.
2.The Chancellor launched the Spending Challenge website on 24
June 2010. The first phase was aimed at the public sector and had
received 61,888 ideas (as of 08 July). A sample of the ideas
submitted can be found here: http://www.hmtreasury.gov.uk/spend_challenge_ideas_1.htm
3. The Spending Review Framework can be found on the Spending
Review section of the HM Treasury website .
4. The Spending Review will be a complete re-evaluation of the
Government’s roles in providing public services. It will do this
by:
- thinking innovatively about the role of the Government in
society
- taking the difficult decisions to reduce the deficit
collectively as a Government; and
- consulting widely using
all talents to deliver a stronger society and a smaller state.
5. The ideas generated throughout the summer will inform the
decisions taken on the allocation of money between Government
departments over the next 4 years. The Spending Review, which will
set out how much each department will have to spend will be
published on 20 October.
6. People will also be able to get in touch via the democracy UK
section on facebook where they can discuss and debate spending
priorities and submit ideas for where cuts can be made.
7. Non-media enquiries should be addressed to the Treasury
Correspondence and Enquiry Unit on 020 7270 4558 or by e-mail to
public.enquiries@hm-treasury.gov.uk .
Non-media enquiries should be addressed to the Treasury
Correspondence and Enquiry Unit on 020 7270 4558 or by e-mail to
public.enquiries@hmtreasury.gsi.gov.uk
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