Recommendation 6

Government efficiency drives tend to be one-off events rather than being embedded as a continuous priority. The Treasury believes that well-defined, tight budgets provide departments with enough of a financial incentive to strive for efficiency continuously. But its emphasis on driving efficiency from departments primarily in the run up to Spending Reviews risks departments losing focus in between fiscal events and there is little evidence of a continuous improvement culture in government. Leadership behaviour that promotes a long-term view and encourages continuous improvement through a culture of openness and transparency that allows everyone to contribute must be properly incentivised. Recommendation: HM Treasury and the Cabinet Office should work jointly from the centre of government to consider how best to instil a culture of continuous improvement across government that lasts beyond this Spending Review process. 8 Efficiency in government 1 Planning efficiency savings