Conservative Party Conference: ‘The 2019 Spending Review: cross-government thinking on investment and reform’

Spending Reviews are the most important opportunity for the UK to reset its policies on public spending and public services. At each Review, the Treasury not only sets the spending limits for public services but also secures agreement for new ideas in public service delivery. By agreeing budgets for several years ahead, Spending Reviews aim to enable public services to invest in innovation with the hope of achieving savings in the future.

The Chancellor has announced that a Review will take place in 2019. This Review will be the most important for a decade. The Government will wish to answer public demands for greater resources for public services, at the same time as maintaining the downward pressure on the national debt. It will want to secure improvements in the productivity of public services at the same time as increasing their overall spending.

This roundtable, led by Oliver Dowden CBE MP, Parliamentary Secretary (Minister for Implementation), Cabinet Office explored how best to marry extra investment and reform designed to improve productivity. It brought together around 20 attendees, including parliamentarians, senior business leaders and other experts. It was held under Chatham House Rule at the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham.

This event was held in partnership with PwC: