Question
Borrowing is high and I welcome some of the measures in the Budget, but we need to look at how every pound of taxpayers’ money is spent. Will the Minister reassure me that he and in particular his colleague, the Chief Secretary of to the Treasury, will be holding every spending Department tightly to account in the spending review, not just for future spending but for managing existing projects, so that every tax pound is spent as wisely as possible?
Answer
My hon. Friend is, as always, right. The Chief Secretary to the Treasury has heard every word she has said. There will be a spending review next year. It is important that we debate not just the levels of that spending, but how we ensure every single pound is spent well, whether on defence, health, education or anything else.25% vibes
Verdict: RED (18/100)
The reply confirms that a spending review is coming and says it is important that every pound is spent well, but it gives no concrete accountability mechanism, commitment, or action. It does not answer the question about how existing projects are managed, so that part is effectively unanswered. The response is mostly vague, and the person who asked would likely need to submit a follow-up for specifics.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Will the Minister, and in particular the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, hold every spending department tightly to account in the spending review for future spending. | Partially Addressed | Hedged | The reply confirms a spending review is coming and says it matters to ensure 'every single pound is spent well', which gestures at holding departments to account for future spending. It names no concrete accountability mechanism, commitment, or action, so it stays at the level of platitude. |
| Will the Minister, and in particular the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, hold every spending department tightly to account in the spending review for how it manages existing projects. | Not Addressed | Generic | The only loosely related statement is the general 'spent well' remark, which does not mention existing projects or how departments manage them. The reply never engages with the question of managing existing projects, so this item is effectively unanswered. |