Cabinet Office minister Douglas Alexander

The government has launched a new bid to cut down on Whitehall red tape.

The Cabinet Office unveiled an initiative on Monday designed to streamline the procurement process across departments.

A joint report from the Regulatory Impact Unit's Public Sector Team and the Office of Government Commerce recommended five key areas of civil service purchase and supply practices that could be improved.

They were:

• Speeding up the procurement process and reducing costs;

• Improving leadership and client capability;

• Improving communication with the market and in government;

• Focusing on successful project outcomes;

• and Achieving more consistent use of best practice.

Ministers hope the drive will improve efficiency as departments look to make savings ahead of next year's comprehensive spending review.

Cabinet Office minister Douglas Alexander said this could not be achieved without targeting privately contracted work as well as in-house practices.

"Improving public services is one of the government's top priorities," he said.

"Much of the public service delivery depends on bought-in services, so effective procurement is at the heart of the government's delivery and reform agenda."

CBI director general Digby Jones welcomed the report.

"Effective procurement is vital for successful delivery," he said.

"Faster processes, good communication between government and industry and stronger government skills in this field will all help to make it happen.

"This report offers a sound plan of action to realise all of these ambitions.

"The CBI is committed to working with government to deliver these positive outcomes."