GOVERNMENT NEWS: Finance managers hold key to Gershon efficiency drive. By John Stokdyk

Whitehall needs to recruit senior finance and commercial managers if it is going to deliver on promised efficiency gains, according to a critical report published by the Commons Public Accounts Committee.

One of 10 main recommendations in the PAC's report on improving government efficiency stipulated that "All main departments should have a professionally qualified finance director and a commercial director on their management board.'

In his 2004 report on government efficiency, Sir Peter Gershon identified efficiency gains that would release £21.5 billion a year by 2007-08 for front line

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