Originally Posted by
Asturias56
Today's "Times" says that the Treasury are asking all departments for a 5% cut in expenditure for the next year
A Chief of Defence Procurement once reacted to one of these regular edicts by suspending all delegated technical and financial approval, insisting he would henceforth sign all approvals. He was swamped within hours, expenditure more or less ceased, and the target was met. Although there was the minor issue of penalty clauses companies invoked when they had to 'pause'. (A favourite MoD word).
We were never sure if this 'success' went to his head, but 3 years later he upheld a ruling that it was a 'routine expectation' of any project manager that he/she make savings of 33% on any project, without affecting operational capability. This was upheld by PUS and two Cabinet Secretaries.
Might I suggest current departmental heads seek out these retired gents? Or, indeed, those who achieved the 33%?