The Department for Work and Pensions' so-called strategy for slicing almost £20bn off its budget is a "train crash waiting to happen", MPs warned.

Robert Devereux, boss of Whitehall's biggest department, was yesterday forced to defend his efficiency plans during questioning from the Public Accounts Committee, after an official report warned the DWP would fail to meet its cost-cutting targets by 2014-15.
The National Audit Office last week told the department to make "rapid progress" in reorganising the way it runs or it would fail to cut £19.63bn from its benefits, pensions and running costs. The analysis claimed the DWP was "not in a position" to push through cuts because it "did not yet have a detailed model" of how it would run.

Margaret Hodge, chairman of the value-for-money committee, began yesterday's meeting by stating: "This feels like a train crash waiting to happen."

She questioned whether cost-cutting targets were "realistic" and fired questions at Mr Devereux, including whether civil servants had adopted a "short-term" attitude to saving. Read more story: Department for Work and Pensions' cost cuts set to be 'train crash' - Telegraph