Public Expenditure - Project Open Gov

Money spent by government and public bodies.

Category: Finance and spending Welfare and public services

Also used as: public spending, government spending, public expenditure

Source / explainer: View HM Treasury public expenditure statistics

Last reviewed: 3 August 2026

Public expenditure is money spent by government and public bodies on services, investment, administration, welfare, debt interest and other functions. It is a central concept in Budgets, Spending Reviews, estimates and committee scrutiny. Changes in public expenditure can affect public services, taxation and borrowing.

Related terms

HM TreasuryThe UK Government department responsible for public finances, tax policy, spending and economic policy.National Audit OfficeThe UK public spending watchdog that supports Parliament in scrutinising value for money.Public Accounts CommitteeA Commons select committee that examines public spending and value for money.Spending ReviewA government process setting departmental spending plans over a future period.