Government bans civil service away days and merchandise after wasteful spending

Crackdown on extravagant expenses

Ministers have decided to prohibit civil service away days and the purchase of merchandise following reports of taxpayers' money being squandered on activities like escape rooms and extravagant mugs. This move is part of a significant crackdown on wasteful spending within Whitehall departments.

Examples of excessive spending

Instances of wasteful expenditure include £967 spent on purple thermos cups by Visas and Immigration, and £548 splurged on "corporate coloured" mugs by HM Passport Office Belfast in 2022. Additionally, the Government Property Agency allocated £1,450 for 500 fidget cubes three years ago, while the Public Sector Fraud Authority paid £1,705 for 500 branded notebooks.

Redirecting funds to essential services

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Pat McFadden, criticized the "wasteful" spending and pledged to reallocate the funds to frontline services. He emphasized the importance of cutting unnecessary expenses to enhance public services, such as hiring more teachers, increasing hospital appointments, and bolstering law enforcement presence.

New regulations and guidelines

Under the new guidelines, civil servants will be required to conduct training and away days within government premises instead of renting external venues. External venue hire will only be permitted if space in government buildings is unavailable. Moreover, stricter rules regarding the purchase of branded products and merchandise will be enforced, allowing such acquisitions only if they are deemed essential for promotional purposes like overseas trade and diplomacy.

Labour's initiative to curb excessive spending

The Labour party is actively working to reduce the number of government credit cards in circulation, which currently stands at around 20,000. In a recent directive, all departments were instructed to freeze the usage of these cards, and cardholders are now required to reapply under more stringent guidelines.