THE States say they are on course to save £20 million by improving efficiency.

In the Five Year Vision approved last year to produce a ‘better, simpler, cheaper’ public sector, Policy and Resources vowed to put the days of duplication and waste behind them and they claim real progress is already being made.

Within the plan they are also looking at raising £20 million from renting and selling off publicly owned property.

The use of States accommodation is under review, including considering which departments could share office space and which buildings could be left vacant either to sell or rent to the private sector.

P & R have revealed that States office workers enjoy on average 26% more space than their UK counterparts and that currently there are one and a quarter work stations for every worker.

Better use of property could net £20 million over five years or even more, depending on how far the States want to go in selling off publicly owned properties such as South Hill, currently home to Public Services, Planning and Environment.

And committee president Senator Frank Walker sees no reason why they should hold back.