Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Gareth Thomas Excerpts
Wednesday 20th March 2013

(11 years, 7 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Maude of Horsham Portrait Mr Maude
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I am happy to be able to tell my hon. Friend that the latest numbers suggest that fewer than 95,000 civil servants went on strike today. The leadership of the PCS, who are not serving their hard-working members at all well, claimed this morning that 250,000 civil servants were on strike. That was simply untrue—it is fewer than 95,000.

Gareth Thomas Portrait Mr Gareth Thomas (Harrow West) (Lab/Co-op)
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On 5 March, Sir George Cox published his independent review into “Overcoming Short-termism within British Business”. The report concluded, among other things, that Cabinet Office-led procurement in the public sector is failing, with long-term strategic issues for the UK Government not a part of Government procurement thinking. When does the Minister plan to put that right?

Lord Maude of Horsham Portrait Mr Maude
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We inherited a position that was exactly as the hon. Gentleman describes from the Government of whom he was a member. We have already improved matters significantly by publishing forward pipelines in a number of sectors so that British suppliers can tool up to bid effectively. We have cut procurement times and costs dramatically so that it is easier and cheaper for businesses to bid and win that business. It is a very great pity that his Government did not get on and do some of that themselves.