Apprentices to experts | Chancellor invites budget ideas from every level of Treasury staff

John Healey has invited Treasury employees across grades and professions to put forward budget proposals, with selected contributors offered the opportunity to present their suggestions to him in person.

According to The Guardian, the chancellor has written to staff at the department’s London, Norwich, Leeds and Darlington campuses, encouraging contributions from people whose day-to-day roles do not normally involve shaping government policy.

The invitation extends beyond the Treasury’s economists and senior officials. Healey has said he wants “everyone from apprentices, IT staff and junior officials to senior economists and private secretaries” to contribute, and hopes some of their suggestions will make it into October’s budget.

Opening up access to decision-making

A Treasury source told The Guardian the exercise was intended to challenge “traditional Whitehall hierarchies”. Employees with the most interesting proposals will be invited to pitch directly to Healey, giving staff further down the organisation an audience with the person making the final decisions.