Fresh blow to Rachel Reeves as Commons probe delivers scathing verdict on her Office for Value for Money

Rachel Reeves’ Office for Value for Money has come under fire as a Commons probe labels it a waste of cash.

Understaffed and poorly-defined

The Chancellor introduced this quango last year to ensure taxpayer money was being used effectively. However, the Treasury select committee has criticized the initiative, stating that it is understaffed and poorly-defined with no clear measurement plan for its effectiveness.

Questioning its purpose

Dame Meg Hillier, the committee's chairwoman, expressed doubts about the necessity of the Office for Value for Money, raising concerns about its redundancy when other government sectors already oversee spending. The National Audit Office, for example, has a significantly larger budget and staff compared to the OfVfM.

Political backlash

Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride accused Labour of prioritizing superficial quangos over actual cost-saving measures. He called for the abolition of the Office if its objectives remain unclear.

Despite the criticism, a Treasury spokesperson defended the quango's role, emphasizing its importance in identifying and eliminating wasteful spending across government departments.