Civil service cuts ‘rushed through’

WHITEHALL has rushed through waves of job cuts without putting plans in place to carry out its work with fewer staff, it has been warned.

Analysis shows the civil service has spent £600 million axing 17,800 staff since December 2010. Although that will eventually dramatically reduce the annual paybill by £400m, there was a “risk” many departments would have to increase their workforce again unless they redesigned the way they worked, according to the National Audit Office.

It also warned the actual savings would be lower if workers ended up on benefits.