Osborne's Spending Challenge web site takes time out to review responses

Osborne's Spending Challenge web site has received tens of thousands of suggestions

The government ‘crowd sourcing’ web site, Spending Challenge, has been closed to give the government an opportunity to revise the responses.

The web site was launched in June this year by Chancellor George Osborne with the aim of consulting the public on how best to achieve the targetted public spending cuts.

It received criticism shortly after launch and was pulled briefly after attracting a range of bizarre and racist proposals.

A note appearing on the web site now says that over 44,000 suggestions were submitted in the last month.

It also said that the web site will be re-opened shortly, and that it will post suggestions received and give the public a chance to vote on them.

The note added: “We’ll take the best ideas and investigate them in further detail. The most promising ideas will be taken forward in time for the Spending Review on 20 October.”

It continued: “The start of the new phase of the web site doesn’t mean it’s too late to submit your ideas – these can continue to be submitted in the usual way. For more information go to www.hm-treasury.gov.uk.”