Overview

• Spending on government procurement cards surged to £675 million in 2024-25, prompting concerns about oversight and waste.
• Civil servants must reapply and justify the necessity of their cards, with the aim of cutting their number by at least 50% by month-end.
• New rules lower the hospitality spending cap from £2,500 to £500, with larger expenses requiring senior-level approval.
• Examples of questionable spending include £2,500 at a Barbados shoe store and £5,237 for a Barcelona hotel stay.
• Savings from the crackdown will be redirected toward government priorities such as healthcare, border security, and public sector efficiency.