To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration his Department has given to the potential role of the private sector in meeting the public sector efficiency targets published in the Financial Statement and Budget Report 2009; and if he will make a statement. (289639)

Budget 2009 published a departmental breakdown of the Government’s £35 billion VFM target, and the “2009 VFM Update” published further detail on some of the reforms Departments will take forward to achieve their targets. Departments may use the private sector to help deliver their targets; these decisions are a matter for individual Departments to make based on their own value for money assessment.