This may be pertinent after the Tory promise to pay for its National Insurance cut with efficiency savings across Whitehall. The quotation speaks for itself: David Cameron, May 19, 2008:
The government ‘efficiency drive’ is one of the oldest tricks in the book. The trouble is, it’s nearly always just that – a trick. In fact it’s such a cliché, there was an episode of Yes Minister about it, called ‘The Economy Drive.’ Ministers are summoned, officials instructed, the media prepared for sweeping savings in the running costs of government. And then, a few months down the line, the sheepish-looking ministers and officials come back and say ‘well actually, it wasn’t quite as straightforward as we’d hoped, Prime Minister.’”
Jim Pickard
Kiran Stacey
