Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to his Department's press release of 4 June 2015, whether he asked departments to undertake an assessment of their productivity before he wrote to them on 20 May 2015 to ask them to identify efficiency savings.

The savings for 2015-16 announced on 4 June 2015 are being achieved through further efficiency savings, tighter control of budgets to drive underspends in year, and driving through asset sales. The government is getting on with the job of repairing the public finances. This will create the best conditions for sustainable growth. Increasing productivity is a key part of this Government’s economic plan. The Chancellor will publish a Productivity Plan soon, setting out a long-term vision for productivity growth in the UK.