The Treasury told us that at this stage the challenge of how best to achieve these reductions is in the hands of individual departments. It explained that each department is itself best placed to understand the resourcing requirements needed to deliver its service programmes and objectives. It told us that the decision around how these headcount reductions will be achieved whilst continuing to deliver vital public services and maintaining an appropriate skill base is, therefore, up to each de...

The Treasury told us that at this stage the challenge of how best to achieve these reductions is in the hands of individual departments. It explained that each department is itself best placed to understand the resourcing requirements needed to deliver its service programmes and objectives. It told us that the decision around how these headcount reductions will be achieved whilst continuing to deliver vital public services and maintaining an appropriate skill base is, therefore, up to each department to decide. The Treasury confirmed that it will not have a top-down, centralised view until the necessary information is gathered from department Type: conclusion | Number: 26 | Response status: not_addressed Government response: 6.1 The government disagrees with the Committee’s recommendation. 6.2 The Prime Minister has confirmed that, rather than a top-down headcount reduction target, department should look for the most effective ways to secure value and maximise efficiency within budge