The treasury has launched a review to tackle efficiency savings in public spending.

The Operational Efficiency Programme, launched today by Yvette Cooper chief secretary to the treasury, hopes to deliver billions of pounds of savings across public spending.

When launching the programme today, Cooper said: 'The Gershon Review saved the Government £23bn and we are on course for £30bn more savings over the next three years. But we need to go further. The taxpayer has a right to expect value for money, and that means the public sector has a duty to seek ever greater efficiencies too.'

The OEP has enlisted the help of some of the industries leading figures who will deliver their recommendations by the Budget 2009.

Former Logica chairman and British Airways non-executive Martin Read will work on back office and IT; the chairman of Ivensys Martin Jay will lead collaborative procurement; Standard Life chairman and former vice chairman of Schroders Worldwide Gerry Grimstone will concentrate on asset management and sales; and Lord Carter, who has chaired various government reviews including the English national stadium and former member of the HM Treasury's productivity panel, will look at public sector property.

Commenting on the review Carter said: 'I intend to challenge government to raise its ambition across the full range of public sector property.'

Further reading:

Operational Efficiency Programme