The Chancellor launches the spending challenge - call for ideas

On the 9th July, George Osborne called on the public to send him their very best ideas on how to get more for less from our public services.

From that day, anyone can go to the new Spending Challenge Public engagement website and submit their ideas.

The Government believes that the people who use our schools, hospitals, transport systems and other public services are the best people to comment on how to get more out of our services, while tackling the country's record deficit.

This year Britain had the highest annual borrowing of any country in the G20. The Government believes urgent action is needed to tackle the deficit. Last month's Budget set out a plan to balance the books by 2014-15, including substantial reductions in public spending.

It is going to require tough decisions, and that means approaching the Spending Review in a completely different way in order to re-shape how we all benefit from and use public services.

In a period of just two weeks, the workers who deliver our public services have sent in more than 60,000 suggestions.

The whole country is being asked to send in ideas during July and August, and to tell the Government what they think about the ideas that are put forward.

Alongside the website, the Chancellor and other Ministers will be taking part in seminars and visits across the country. They will be listening to the public's ideas in person and seeking views on how public spending should be cut, while protecting the vulnerable in our society.

Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne said:

'We are facing the challenge of a lifetime. After years of Labour waste, there is now simply not enough money to go round".

"That's why I'm asking everyone across the country to send in their ideas. We need to tackle this huge national debt and make our economy stronger, and it's your ideas that will help us do that by improving public services and saving money".