Stephen Metcalfe, local MP
for South Basildon and East Thurrock, rose on the floor of the House of Commons
yesterday to ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office
and Paymaster General what steps he is taking to reduce Whitehall waste.
Mr Metcalfe asked: “What
steps will my right hon. Friend take to accelerate the pace of efficiency
savings in Whitehall, and what further action will he take to slice out the
accumulated waste of the previous Government?”
To which
the Minister, Francis Maude MP replied: “I was able to announce a couple of
weeks ago that in the last financial year, 2012-13, we made over £10 billion of
efficiency savings. It is a pity that it has taken so long to get on with this.
If the present Leader of the Opposition had started on the process when he was
in my position, the country’s public finances would now be in a much better
state.”
Mr Metcalfe later
commented: “It is imperative that the Government are good stewards of tax
payers money and this naturally involves reducing inefficient spending in
Whitehall departments.”
“Under the
previous Labour Government there was a culture of wastefulness and frivolous
spending. I am pleased that this Government is tackling this, bringing some
order and discipline to Government Departments and therefore ensuring that the
hard earned money of people in South Basildon and East Thurrock is spent
wisely.”
