18/09/2009
Cabinet Spending Cut Talks
Chancellor Alistair Darling has opened face-to-face talks with individual cabinet ministers over likely budget cuts.
The meetings follow Prime Minister Gordon Brown's earlier statement on reducing "unnecessary" spending.
Mr Darling is reportedly set to ask ministers what schemes they think could undergo funding reviews.
Labour has been accused of misleading the Commons over spending plans.
The Tories said the government had continually denied a 10% reduction in public expenditure, which now seems likely.
Where exactly the 'axe' will fall is expected to be made public in an autumn Pre-Budget Report.
Departmental savings will be detailed in the report, which will be decided during the Chancellor's talks with ministerial colleagues.
It has been mooted many cabinet ministers see the scrapping of Home Office's controversial ID cards as a possible move.
However, the Ministry of Defence expected to progress with its Trident nuclear weapons replacement programme.
Lib Dem Treasury spokesman Vince Cable has continued to insist tax hikes will be necessary to cover the projected £175bn budget deficit by the end of this year.
(PR/GK)
The meetings follow Prime Minister Gordon Brown's earlier statement on reducing "unnecessary" spending.
Mr Darling is reportedly set to ask ministers what schemes they think could undergo funding reviews.
Labour has been accused of misleading the Commons over spending plans.
The Tories said the government had continually denied a 10% reduction in public expenditure, which now seems likely.
Where exactly the 'axe' will fall is expected to be made public in an autumn Pre-Budget Report.
Departmental savings will be detailed in the report, which will be decided during the Chancellor's talks with ministerial colleagues.
It has been mooted many cabinet ministers see the scrapping of Home Office's controversial ID cards as a possible move.
However, the Ministry of Defence expected to progress with its Trident nuclear weapons replacement programme.
Lib Dem Treasury spokesman Vince Cable has continued to insist tax hikes will be necessary to cover the projected £175bn budget deficit by the end of this year.
(PR/GK)
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