Exclusive: Taxpayers to front extra £4bn for recent HS2 delays Transport and infrastructure Recent delays to HS2 have increased costs for taxpayers by up to nearly £4bn, according to a government document detailing the value of mega-projects in the UK. The Office for Value for Money, a cost-saving unit set up by Rachel Reeves, found deferrals over the last two years would increase costs on Phase 1 from [...]
Spending Review: IFS chief suggests Treasury ‘making up numbers’ over DOGE-style Whitehall cuts Economics The Ministry of Defence and Department for Health and Social Care are slated to see billions cut in Whitehall budgets in what a DOGE-style body within the Treasury described as “efficiency gains” – despite both departments set to see a real terms increase in spending between 2026 and 2029. A new government document has revealed [...]
This government has proven woefully naive. Just look at the ‘Office for Value for Money’ Opinion Reeves' failing Office for Value for Money showcases just how naive this government is, writes Eliot Wilson.
Starmer’s value for money office might be a waste of money, MPs warn January 20, 2025 Keir Starmer’s new value for money office might be a waste of money, an influential group of MPs have warned in a sceptical report. The newly-established Office for Value for Money (OVfM), which Labour pledged to set up ahead of the election, is supposed to improve government competitiveness and crackdown on waste. But concerns have [...]
The Notebook: A British DOGE? It’s more likely than you think November 25, 2024 Will Britain follow Musk's example and set up its own DOGE? It wouldn't be the first try, writes Richard Morgan Evans in today's Notebook.
What should an office for value for money do? November 21, 2024 There's no point in raising money if it won't be spent well. Joe Hill lays out how the office for value for money could actually help.
Office for Value for Money: Can more bureaucracy really improve productivity? November 13, 2024 Public sector productivity has remained the same for 25 years. Can more bureaucracy help it, Paul Ormerod asks.