The CBI has said efficiency savings at the Department of Trade and Industry must not result in lower quality services.

In its submission to the government's upcoming comprehensive spending review, the business body called for standards at the ministry to be maintained.

The chancellor is expected to use the review to publish plans for large scale job cuts throughout the civil service in a bid to improve public sector productivity.

Gordon Brown has asked Sir Peter Gershon to investigate the scope for reform and the CBI has so far welcomed the efficiency drive.

But with the DTI thought to be ready to axe as many as 1,300 staff the lobby group said the changes should not come at the expense of quality.

Director general Digby Jones said the department is not "a sacred cow" and must be subject to the same processes as other parts of Whitehall.

However as the submission was made on Monday he warned that support for the move was not unlimited.

"We are right behind the idea of greater public sector efficiency and are keen to have people and methods which reflect the standards of modern business," he said.

"But that does not mean we will accept a decline in services critical to competitiveness. I would be amazed if there were not scope for savings at the DTI but I do not want its services emasculated.

"I cannot enlighten ministers on how many people should be doing these jobs.  I don't know how many officials it takes to change a light bulb, but I know when I need the light bulb changed and I expect it to work when I turn it on.

"It is crucial that the government carries out a thorough root-and-branch analysis of the tasks to be done and how they might be delivered in a different way."