Written questions by Whately.

Whether she plans to (a) implement and (b) cancel efficiency savings budgeted for by the previous Government for (i) her Department and (ii) departmental arm's length bodies; and what plans she has for further such efficiency savings.

The Chancellor has recently set out plans for departmental efficiencies such as taking actions to stop all non-essential government consultancy spend in 2024-25 and halve government spending on consultancy in future years, reducing communications and marketing budgets and continuing to dispose of surplus public sector estates. Future year efficiencies will be set during the upcoming Spending Review. Further information can be could here: Fixing the foundations – Public spending audit 2024-25 (publishing.service.gov.uk).

If she will list the underspends within (a) her Department and (b) each of its arms length bodies in (i) this financial year and (ii) across the Spending Review period.

In each financial year, the Government seeks authority from Parliament for its spending each year. The Main Estimates start this process and are presented to Parliament by the Treasury. This sets out the departmental forecast spend for the year. Each year this is updated through the Supplementary Estimates, where any changes against the Main Estimates are published. These are available online at: HMT Main Estimates - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). These publications are accompanied by a Memorandum that provides further information on the key drivers for changes to spending and are also available online: Transport Committee - Estimate memoranda - Committees - UK Parliament. In addition, the Department’s Annual Report and Accounts are published annually, which sets out the final consolidated position for the year: DfT Annual Report and Accounts 2023-2024 (publishing.service.gov.uk).