There’s £3.5bn more to find in cuts,but not until 2019. George Osborne left open the question as to which departments are to carry the canBudget coverage abounds with comparisons between the man and a magician – rabbits out of hats and so on. Conjurors also indulge in sleight of hand. There are plenty of examples: public sector employers will pay more in national insurance; pensions are being rearranged. Now you see it – George Osborne announced Whitehall would find an additional £3.5bn in efficiency savings; now you don’t – the Treasury plunks the total down in 2019-20, leaving it open as to which departments and budgets are to carry the can.
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Source: theguardian.com