Government to use Spending Challenge website ideas

The selling of surplus and second hand government equipment will be increased by expanding use of the Ministry of Defence's (MoD) online eDisposals service to other departments, it said. Under the plans, the Cabinet Office and the MoD will launch a pilot project this autumn to develop the existing eDisposals website and associated services. The Treasury said the idea will be introduced as policy and will help the government to reduce the deficit. The other two ideas to be implemented are a reduction in the number of CRB checks for junior doctors, which are expected to save up to a £1m a year and cut administrative burdens for the NHS, and the distribution of National Insurance numbers to people via letter rather than plastic card. "These are the people's ideas. Over 100,000 suggestions have been put to us and now we're starting to put some of them into practice. In doing so, we are directly tapping the experience of those working in the frontline of public services instead of assuming ministers in Whitehall have all the answers," said chancellor George Osborne. "No one idea will solve the problems we face, but taken together they can make a real contribution to reducing the deficit and rebalancing the country's economy at a crucial time. People's ideas will have a real impact on the tough decisions ahead." HM Treasury said other ideas submitted through the Spending Challenge website are being considered by the relevant government departments and may be introduced as part of the spending review this autumn. The Spending Challenge site was launched in July to encourage UK citizens to submit ideas about spending cuts.