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Tories 'to squeeze public sector' | Tories 'to squeeze public sector' |
(20 minutes later) | |
The Tories say they would save £60bn a year by persuading civil servants to work harder and improving efficiency. | |
Shadow chief secretary to the Treasury Philip Hammond will later set out how a Conservative government would achieve "more with less". | Shadow chief secretary to the Treasury Philip Hammond will later set out how a Conservative government would achieve "more with less". |
Plans include stripping departments of their property portfolios and managing government real estate centrally. | Plans include stripping departments of their property portfolios and managing government real estate centrally. |
Labour and the Lib Dems also have extensive plans to cut government running costs through efficiencies. | Labour and the Lib Dems also have extensive plans to cut government running costs through efficiencies. |
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has overseen a Whitehall efficiency drive and has ordered departments to find savings in low priority programmes. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown has overseen a Whitehall efficiency drive and has ordered departments to find savings in low priority programmes. |
Further announcements are expected ahead of next month's pre-Budget report, including a review of Whitehall jobs to be moved out of London and a cut in the cost of senior civil servants. | Further announcements are expected ahead of next month's pre-Budget report, including a review of Whitehall jobs to be moved out of London and a cut in the cost of senior civil servants. |
Productivity | Productivity |
But in a speech to the Policy Exchange think tank, Mr Hammond will claim Labour's failure to increase efficiency in the public sector is costing the taxpayer £60bn a year. | But in a speech to the Policy Exchange think tank, Mr Hammond will claim Labour's failure to increase efficiency in the public sector is costing the taxpayer £60bn a year. |
What will matter to us is whether or not a successful outcome is delivered at an affordable price - not who delivers it Philip Hammond, shadow chief secretary to Treasury | What will matter to us is whether or not a successful outcome is delivered at an affordable price - not who delivers it Philip Hammond, shadow chief secretary to Treasury |
He will say that the private services sector achieved a 20% growth in productivity in the decade after 1997 but the public sector saw a 3.4% decline over the same period. | He will say that the private services sector achieved a 20% growth in productivity in the decade after 1997 but the public sector saw a 3.4% decline over the same period. |
He will announce plans to set up an advisory board on productivity to help drive efficiency savings, if the Conservatives win the next election. | He will announce plans to set up an advisory board on productivity to help drive efficiency savings, if the Conservatives win the next election. |
"We have modelled what would have happened if the public sector of our economy had delivered the same productivity performance as the private service sector in each year of that decade," he will say. | "We have modelled what would have happened if the public sector of our economy had delivered the same productivity performance as the private service sector in each year of that decade," he will say. |
"The result is startling: we would today be enjoying the same quality and quantity of public services - with a saving to the taxpayer of some £60bn per year. | "The result is startling: we would today be enjoying the same quality and quantity of public services - with a saving to the taxpayer of some £60bn per year. |
"That is the price we are paying, every year, for Labour's failure to deliver public service reform." | "That is the price we are paying, every year, for Labour's failure to deliver public service reform." |
The latest proposals build on austerity measures outlined by shadow chancellor George Osborne at the Conservatives' annual conference in October. | The latest proposals build on austerity measures outlined by shadow chancellor George Osborne at the Conservatives' annual conference in October. |
'Customer control' | 'Customer control' |
The shadow public services productivity advisory board will feature a number of figures - yet to be named - described as "very senior advisers with established credentials". | The shadow public services productivity advisory board will feature a number of figures - yet to be named - described as "very senior advisers with established credentials". |
A key Tory proposal is to move all government-owned property into central publicly-owned asset companies. | A key Tory proposal is to move all government-owned property into central publicly-owned asset companies. |
Government departments would then pay rent and the asset companies, using professional management, would be forced to squeeze as much as possible out of the government's real estate assets. | Government departments would then pay rent and the asset companies, using professional management, would be forced to squeeze as much as possible out of the government's real estate assets. |
The Tories would also introduce greater competition within the public sector by allowing high-performing parts of it to bid to run other areas. | The Tories would also introduce greater competition within the public sector by allowing high-performing parts of it to bid to run other areas. |
For example, a successful local authority planning department in one area could take charge of the planning responsibilities of a struggling council. | For example, a successful local authority planning department in one area could take charge of the planning responsibilities of a struggling council. |
"What will matter to us is whether or not a successful outcome is delivered at an affordable price - not who delivers it," Mr Hammond will say. | "What will matter to us is whether or not a successful outcome is delivered at an affordable price - not who delivers it," Mr Hammond will say. |
Further Tory plans include extending "customer" control over the public services beyond the schools, health and social care areas it has already identified. | Further Tory plans include extending "customer" control over the public services beyond the schools, health and social care areas it has already identified. |
Francis Maude, who heads the Conservatives' implementation team, which is briefing civil servants on what to expect from a David Cameron government if the Tories win the next election, is also working on plans to shake-up Whitehall. | Francis Maude, who heads the Conservatives' implementation team, which is briefing civil servants on what to expect from a David Cameron government if the Tories win the next election, is also working on plans to shake-up Whitehall. |
Under his plans, ,inisters will be given more control over departments and top civil servants will have their pay linked to delivery of efficiency savings. Departments would also be ranked on performance. | Under his plans, ,inisters will be given more control over departments and top civil servants will have their pay linked to delivery of efficiency savings. Departments would also be ranked on performance. |