Fresh legislation could be introduced allowing Whitehall departments to share details on people and businesses that owe them money.
The plans announced today by Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude would also help cut the UK Government's losses to unpaid debt.
It follows a study that revealed debtors owed cash to multiple departments.
More than £20 billion is owed to Government, while more than £7bn is lost through unpaid debt written off each year. Mr Maude said: "For years Government has done all too little to collect the huge amounts of debt owed."
We moderate all comments on HeraldScotland on either a pre-moderated or post-moderated basis. If you're a relatively new user then your comments will be reviewed before publication and if we know you well then your comments will be subject to moderation only if other users or the moderators believe you've broken the rules, which are available here.
Moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours. Please be patient if your posts are not approved instantly.
