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Who's Spending Britain's Billions?

Jacques Peretti explores how public bodies utilise their resources and asks whether taxpayers are getting value for money.

As Britain continues to spend less on the public sector, do we really know where our taxes are being spent?

Spending on schools, hospitals and foreign aid are well debated. In this one-off documentary, Jacques Peretti looks beyond the well-known budgets to the range of projects the public know less about, from the virtual receptionists at Brent Civic Centre to the night-vision goggles being used to spy on dog walkers in Staffordshire.

Peretti uncovers what is happening behind closed doors in cash-strapped Britain and finds that local councils across the UK are signing contracts with management consultancy firms who can take a percentage of any savings they find.

Peretti also reveals that hundreds of the millions of taxpayers' pounds spent on these contracts are covered by confidential deals meaning very little detail is known about them. In this revealing insight, Peretti asks if the public deserve to know more about how those charged with managing Britain's billions are spending it.

59 minutes

Last on

Thu 9 Nov 2017 19:00
BBC Two Wales

Clips

See all clips from Who's Spending Britain's Billions? (2)

Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:01

    Depeche Mode

    The Sinner In Me

  • 00:04

    The Vaccines

    Handsome

  • 00:12

    Gabrielle Aplin

    Skeleton

  • 00:57

    Jack Savoretti

    Take Me Home

Credits

Presenter Jacques Peretti
Executive Producer Emma Cooper
Executive Producer Mark Rubens
Producer Dan Trelford
Director Dan Trelford
Production Company Pulse

Broadcasts

  • Tue 18 Oct 2016 20:00
    BBC Two
  • Sun 23 Oct 2016 18:00
    BBC Two except Scotland
  • Tue 31 Oct 2017 19:00
    BBC Two except Wales
  • Thu 9 Nov 2017 19:00
    BBC Two Wales