Francis Maude’s office has found another £5bn in savings across Whitehall by implementing basic private sector efficiency practices. Figures announced this morning show that £1bn has been saved by cutting the number of outside consultants by 85%. £390m has been saved through  a freeze on marketing. £200m by severing unnecessary government property leases. Nearly half a billion has been saved through pooling various departments’ spending on goods and services  – who would have thought bulk buying would be cheaper eh? Another £1.5bn has been saved through the civil service recruitment freeze. You have to wonder why this wasn’t done years ago? A good start, but now time to swing that axe even harder, not put it away…