The Treasury announced a peculiar pay structure for its new cost-efficiency leader that sparked questions about spending priorities. David Goldstone‚ picked as value-for-money chairman will get £950 per-day for a one-day weekly commitment (which makes £247‚000 yearly if worked full-time) - way above Keir Starmerʼs £166‚786 yearly pay
His track-record shows some eye-catching numbers: the 2012 Olympics budget jumped from £2.45bn to £9.35bn under his watch. At the Ministry of Defense (around 5 years ago) there were issues with spending control; a report found £4bn in questionable expenses
The Parliament building work brings more questions. Last winter‚ Dame Meg Hillier wrote to Goldstone about his £168‚000 bonus on top of £311‚000 salary: for a project that didnt move forward. The renovation costs might hit £22bn and take decades to finish; thatʼs if MPs stay in the building during work
Currently Goldstone holds three jobs: he joined the submarine agency about 2 years ago GB Nuclear this year and became Treasuryʼs person on HS2 last summer. The train projectʼs cost went from £37.5bn to £67bn for just London-Birmingham part. His background includes work at Price Waterhouse and school funding projects