The 2007 comprehensive spending review : first report of session 2007-08, report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence

The planned rate of growth of public spending is set to be considerably slower than the rate of growth of recent years, which could lead to cost pressures on departmental spending as there will be a greater proportional growth in the Annual Managed Expenditure.

There will also be cost pressures from public sector wage settlements, population growth and needs in particular sectors.The efficiency programmes are highly ambitious but the Committee recommends that savings should only be recorded if it could be shown that service standards have been maintained.

There is a welcome for the decision not to impose explicit targets for reduction in Civil Service numbers.Divided into five main sections, "The 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review (HC 55)" examines: overall spending issues; efficiency and value for money; the new performance management framework; child poverty; and, individual spending settlements.On child poverty, the Committee note a possible tension between the target to halve child poverty by 2010-11 and that of eliminating child poverty by 2020.

There is a concern that the Government has drawn back from a whole-hearted commitment to meet the 2010 target. The Committee would like the Government to either initiate a debate on the trade-off between the two targets or rededicate itself to the 2010-11 target, making it clear that the resources are available within the Comprehensive Spending Review.