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MoD paid £22 for 65p light bulb MoD paid £22 for 65p light bulb
(40 minutes later)
The Ministry of Defence has admitted it has been paying £22 for a light bulb worth 65p.The Ministry of Defence has admitted it has been paying £22 for a light bulb worth 65p.
Defence Secretary Liam Fox described it as "inexcusable" and evidence of a waste of taxpayers' money by the previous Labour government.Defence Secretary Liam Fox described it as "inexcusable" and evidence of a waste of taxpayers' money by the previous Labour government.
The Sun newspaper has published an invoice it was shown by a soldier who works in the stores of a UK base.The Sun newspaper has published an invoice it was shown by a soldier who works in the stores of a UK base.
Defence chiefs are also said to have paid £103 each for screws, believed to be on sale online for £2.60.Defence chiefs are also said to have paid £103 each for screws, believed to be on sale online for £2.60.
The soldier said he could not ignore the "criminal" waste he saw every day.The soldier said he could not ignore the "criminal" waste he saw every day.
He told the Sun: "You're talking about a fortune for these bulbs. If I order 100, that's over £2,000. But you can pick them up for 65p each, the exact same ones.He told the Sun: "You're talking about a fortune for these bulbs. If I order 100, that's over £2,000. But you can pick them up for 65p each, the exact same ones.
"There must be thousands of light bulbs across the MoD. If people paid attention to simple things like this, they could save a lot of money - and maybe jobs.""There must be thousands of light bulbs across the MoD. If people paid attention to simple things like this, they could save a lot of money - and maybe jobs."
'Common sense''Common sense'
The soldier, who the Sun did not name, said specialist contractors sourced items for the military and added their costs on to the price, but large savings could be made by buying in bulk.The soldier, who the Sun did not name, said specialist contractors sourced items for the military and added their costs on to the price, but large savings could be made by buying in bulk.
Dr Fox told paper: "We are already tackling the procurement problems we inherited head-on. When money is tight and we need to protect the front line, waste is inexcusable.Dr Fox told paper: "We are already tackling the procurement problems we inherited head-on. When money is tight and we need to protect the front line, waste is inexcusable.
"This is classic evidence of how Labour wasted taxpayers' money and shows a complete lack of common sense. No wonder the last government left the MoD with a budget deficit of £38bn.""This is classic evidence of how Labour wasted taxpayers' money and shows a complete lack of common sense. No wonder the last government left the MoD with a budget deficit of £38bn."
An MoD spokesman said: "Given the current financial situation, we are looking at existing contracts to ensure value for money and taking steps to make efficiency savings."An MoD spokesman said: "Given the current financial situation, we are looking at existing contracts to ensure value for money and taking steps to make efficiency savings."
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    • Dear BBC, It's not £22.51 per bulb it's £22.51 per DofQ which is a pack of 25. Also this is not a standard light bulb it's a Rough Service Heavy Duty item notice the picture of the lead lamp on the box as shown. Once again a terrible story blown out of all proportion... Ian Fursland The Lamp Company Ltd.
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    • No surprise - the waste Labour left is astonishing. There MUST be a line by line review of these contracts and every penny overspent must be stripped out. The private sector has to operate on this basis so why not the public sector - it sickens me how much money is wasted in this country.
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    • Lets ask for the money back, please. Come on England. Lets protest and get the Government out. Lets have Jhon Lydon for Prime Minister. Seriously, we need action now. I want 22 liters of diesel for 65p.
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