MP wants nine Whitehall departments merged or closed

The present 20 government departments should be almost halved with some merged or abolished, saving £8bn a year and cutting bureaucracy and waste.

Conservative MP Dominic Raab said his plans for 11 larger departments would not hit front line services, and could lead to "more joined-up policy making".

Next week, the chancellor will announce the result of his Spending Review where departments will find out how much they will have to spend in the years ahead.

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