Traditionally, as the old academics' joke had it, mathematics departments were the second-cheapest university departments to run, on the basis all they needed were pencils, paper and a bin. But the philosophy department was the cheapest by far, requiring just pencils and paper.

In this spirit, it seems Number 10's public service thinkers are set to make it all add up. For, in a little-noticed clear-out, buried amid all the end-of-term excitement over the European veto, the Open public services White Paper has been consigned to the great dustbin of Whitehall history.