1. On Tuesday 9 October, the Rt Hon Alistair Darling MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer, presented to the House of Commons the outcome of the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review, alongside the 2007 Pre-Budget Report.[1] In June 2007, we published a Report on the prospects for the Comprehensive Spending Review.[2] In the current Report, we examine particular aspects of the Review, including some pressures on public spending, the efficiency programme, the new performance management framework, plans for reducing and then eliminating child poverty, and some aspects of individual spending settlements.

2. As part of this inquiry, we took oral evidence on 22 October from the Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, and HM Treasury officials. We also received a range of written evidence, most of which is published with this Report and the remainder of which has been reported to the House and is available for public inspection.[3] We have also taken this opportunity to publish correspondence between Mr Nicholas Macpherson, Permanent Secretary to the Treasury, and the Chairman of this Committee about HM Treasury's Public Service Agreements and Departmental Strategic Objectives.[4] In preparing this Report, we have also drawn upon evidence taken from expert witnesses,[5] from Treasury officials and from the Chancellor of the Exchequer as part of our inquiry into the 2007 Pre-Budget Report, evidence which is being published with our separate Report on that subject,[6] and evidence taken by our Sub-Committee from Mr Macpherson on 14 November on HM Treasury's administration and expenditure in 2006-07.[7] We are most grateful to all those who gave evidence during our inquiry into the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review, and to Professor David Heald of Sheffield University and Professor Colin Talbot of Manchester Business School for their specialist advice.

2   Treasury Committee, Sixth Report of Session 2006-07, The 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review: prospects and processes, HC 279 Back

3   For a list of published written evidence and a list of other evidence reported to the House, and details of how such evidence may be inspected, see p 42. Back

4   See Ev 21-34. Back

5   Mr Robert Chote, Institute for Fiscal Studies, Ms Bridget Rosewell, Volterra Consulting, Dr Martin Weale, National Institute of Economic and Social Research, Professor Colin Talbot, Manchester Business School, and Mr John Whiting, PriceWaterhouseCoopers. Back

6   Treasury Committee, Second Report of Session 2007-08, The 2007 Pre-Budget Report, HC 54. All references in the current Report to oral evidence taken during the inquiry into the 2007 Pre-Budget Report are in the form HC (2007-08) 54, Q … Back

7   Treasury Sub-Committee, Uncorrected transcript of oral evidence, Mr Nicholas Macpherson, HM Treasury's administration and expenditure in 2006-07, 14 November 2007 Back