public sector spend £22 on 65p light bulbs. Sums these fools up really

silverchair

drc wrote: »

There is a joke in here somewhere about changing lightbulbs...

Probably has the word PFI in it

silverchair

RJP33 wrote: »

Having worked in the private sector mostly but also in the civil service, the key problem I notice is a lack of accountability. If you overspend or don’t get value in the private sector it has a direct influence on the bottom line, whereas there’s a culture of it doesn’t really matter in the public sector which leads to incredible waste.

A persons value is usually scrutinised in the commercial world, but there are plenty of ‘passengers’ in the civil service.

Certainly I think the top civil servants should have considerable commercial experience, otherwise how are they ever going to deliver proper value for the taxpayer?

I think its got a lot more to do with the last Government's brilliant idea of building new schools & using PFI to do it. Now we have lovely new schools but not enough money for textbooks because the money is being spent on changing a light bulb or fixing a door. Theres absoultely no competition for the job or the option of ringing around to get the best quote. You have to use these guys & they charge whatever. Tax payers pay in the end.

vivatifosi

Andy_L wrote: »

Actually this story demonstrates the incompetance of Private Sector reporting. Perhaps reporters shouldn't be allowed to work for newspapers without 7 years experinece of a job.

"he bulbs are highly specialised parts for a radar system. A MoD spokesman said: "It was a precision-made lamp filament for the Watchman radar. The MoD purchases about five per year."


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12643966

Wow, the article has totally changed.

Rochdale_Pioneers

Am surprised why this is such a shock to people. The last 2 companies I have worked for - one a large PLC, the other a hugigantic multi-national, both have purchasing people paid to insist that the mobile phone they supply me has a cost twice its face value charged to my cost centre. Both alleged that they over-pay for hardware because they get "a good package".

Or how about the corporate travel agent I was compelled to use. Their "service" was a skinned Trainline portal where I get to do all the work booking tickets, pay the Trainline their booking fee AND one for the agency. Wasn't allowed to book tickets through an operator like East Coast for free.

IronWolf

Rochdale_Pioneers wrote: »

Am surprised why this is such a shock to people. The last 2 companies I have worked for - one a large PLC, the other a hugigantic multi-national, both have purchasing people paid to insist that the mobile phone they supply me has a cost twice its face value charged to my cost centre. Both alleged that they over-pay for hardware because they get "a good package".

Or how about the corporate travel agent I was compelled to use. Their "service" was a skinned Trainline portal where I get to do all the work booking tickets, pay the Trainline their booking fee AND one for the agency. Wasn't allowed to book tickets through an operator like East Coast for free.

A lot of that are these stupid freedom of information rules. They need accounts of all travel by ticket type and other details and it cant be done if everyones ordering their own thing and claiming it back, so they have to pay stupid fees to have one contractor supply all tickets.

pinkteapot

Thank you to those pointing out the fact that these are simply not normal light bulbs.

Reminds me of the West Wing ep where Christian Slater's character explained why the US Navy bought $400 ashtrays.

silverchair

Was Christian Slater in the West Wing? Cant remeber him being in it. Oh well

Graham_Devon

Rochdale_Pioneers wrote: »

Am surprised why this is such a shock to people. The last 2 companies I have worked for - one a large PLC, the other a hugigantic multi-national, both have purchasing people paid to insist that the mobile phone they supply me has a cost twice its face value charged to my cost centre. Both alleged that they over-pay for hardware because they get "a good package".

Or how about the corporate travel agent I was compelled to use. Their "service" was a skinned Trainline portal where I get to do all the work booking tickets, pay the Trainline their booking fee AND one for the agency. Wasn't allowed to book tickets through an operator like East Coast for free.

Good old procurement solutions.

We have to pay £136 each for items we purchase regularly, through our "special deal" procurement suppliers.

£73 on Amazon

If we go through amazon though and not the preferred supplier, we can't claim the costs back. Can with the special procurement cost saving solution

FATBALLZ

The_White_Horse wrote: »

this is why you should only be allowed to work for the civil service after at least 7 years in the private sector.

Regardless of the article, this actually sounds like a good idea. Moving straight into the public sector is much like having your parents pay all your expenses when you're growing up, you never learn the value of money or really understand where it comes from. This should at least apply to management roles.

bobthedambuilder

Graham_Devon wrote: »

Good old procurement solutions.

We have to pay £136 each for items we purchase regularly, through our "special deal" procurement suppliers.

£73 on Amazon

Well how else do you think the buying dept heads pay for their kids to go to private school?