George Osborne is planning to cut staff numbers at the Treasury by about one-quarter and scale back his department's role as he attempts to lead by example in the search for sweeping spending cuts across Whitehall. The chancellor will reconvene the public spending "star chamber" this week and hopes to settle a number of departmental budgets - including justice, transport, environment and culture - by mid-September.Mr Osborne wants his own department to lead the way and has made plans to reduce Treasury staff numbers from 1,350 to 1,000 by natural attrition over the next four years, drawing a line under what he regards as the empire-building of the Gordon Brown era.
The chancellor will reconvene the public spending "star chamber" this week and hopes to settle a number of departmental budgets - including justice, transport, environment and culture - by mid-September.
Mr Osborne wants his own department to lead the way and has made plans to reduce Treasury staff numbers from 1,350 to 1,000 by natural attrition over the next four years, drawing a line under what he regards as the empire-building of the Gordon Brown era.
The Treasury is also going to shrink its financial services function, a move which reflects Mr Osborne's belief that the crisis management phase of the banking crisis is over.
