Government confirms plans for public sector cuts
The Government has today confirmed that it plans to reduce the number of workers in the public service by a further 23,500 between now and 2015.
If that goal is achieved, the public-sector pay bill will have been reduced by 15% since 2008.
A major review of quangos is also underway, with 48 facing rationalisation this year, and a further 46 being reviewed next year.
The decentralisation programme announced in 2003 has officially been cancelled, although 32 projects already in place will be left untouched.
Unions have been sent proposals on the standardisation of annual leave, and historical local arrangements like festivals and race days are to be abolished.
