MP appeals to town for ideas on cutting public sector cash

Climate change minister and Bexhill and Battle MP Greg Barker used his time in Devonshire Square on Friday to appeal for creative suggestions on how to cut the public purse.

He handed out surveys, asking locals to return completed forms to his office, and promising to forward the best ideas to George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer, in August.

"We're facing the challenge of a lifetime," said Greg. "I want to get as many ideas as possible on how we can get better services for less money.

"This is going to be vital in getting the economy moving, protecting the most vulnerable and coming out of this stronger. That's why I'm spending the summer listening to local people about how we can cut the deficit."

Ideas can also be submitted online at a dedicated spending challenge website, spendingchallenge.hm-treasury.gov.uk

The coalition government has promised to incorporate some ideas into its autumn spending review.