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Alistair Darling came under pressure today to spell out the scale of public spending cuts needed to rescue Britain's finances.
The Chancellor was facing a grilling from a committee of MPs who suspect he is holding back details of how deeply cutbacks will bite in Whitehall departments.
Mr Darling has also been criticised by a former Chief of the Defence Staff after announcing defence cuts yesterday to pay for new equipment for the Afghanistan war. Air Chief Marshal Lord Craig said national security was being put at risk by running down the RAF.
"By cutting fast jets again, the Government is reducing our ability to establish air superiority," he told the Telegraph. "It doesn't matter how many helicopters you have if the other side is able to shoot them down freely."
He added: "Does the Government think we're never going to come up against an enemy with air power? This doesn't seem sensible."
The Chancellor faces the cross-party Treasury Committee this afternoon, when he will be questioned about the pre-Budget report, his spending plans and record £178 billion borrowing.
MPs are not convinced by his claim that spending in most departments is assumed to be "flat" in future years. A report from the independent Institute for Fiscal Studies found a £16 billion gap between the spending plans and the cuts needed to meet the Treasury target of halving borrowing in four years.
To meet Mr Darling's pledge to protect the NHS, schools and police numbers from cuts, the IFS said other departments would have to make cuts of six per cent a year, with defence, housing and transport bearing the brunt.
The Government's efficiency savings were questioned by the spending watchdog today. The National Audit Office said a third of £892 million reportedly saved at the Department for Transport "may be overstated". It also had "significant concerns" over 17 per cent of £328 million supposedly saved at the Home Office. NAO head Amyas Morse said: "A failure to deliver these savings may mean cuts having to be made elsewhere."
Reader views (2)
The chancellor facing a "grilling" don't make me laugh.It will be the usual smoke and mirrors and nods and winks,all mates together scenario.Make sure that the country is truly run into the ground whilst they all swan off with their inflated pensions and pay outs.Could Mr.Darling please tell his boss to remove that maniacal grin off his face that he now turns on at every occasion.It makes me heave.
- Maddy, Gedney Drove End UK, 16/12/2009 12:14
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Defending our own country is far more important than invading other countries; it is about time our troops got to grips with terrorists in the UK first, once that is done, then go and fight them abroad etc.
Fighting on two fronts is harder than fighting on one front?
- Mickinlondon, london, 16/12/2009 11:31
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