News story

Response to NAO report on managing staff costs

The National Audit Office (NAO) has released a report providing a high level review of how staff costs have been managed in central government.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

The National Audit Office (NAO) has released a report providing a high level review of how staff costs have been managed in central government. In light of the publication of the report the Government has issued a response.

In the reposnse the Minister for the Cabinet Office, Francis Maude said;

While we welcome the recommendations in the report, it’s important to remember that we have already taken quick action to get a grip on Civil Service numbers and pay as part of our commitment to protect important front line services by reducing costs at the centre.  We have frozen salaries, reduced bonuses and our freeze on external recruitment back in May 2010 has already delivered £120 million in savings.

He also said;

The government is grappling with the biggest deficit in peacetime history., It is incredibly important that pay and benefits are kept under control so we can protect civil service jobs on the frontline. The average civil servant’s pay is still well below the private sector and we need to ensure that we protect the lowest paid and that is why we are doing all we can to cut costs at the centre and curbing senior pay.

Published 1 February 2012