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MoD rows back on '£22 for 65p light bulb' denial MoD rows back on '£22 for 65p light bulb' denial
(40 minutes later)
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) now says it is investigating newspaper claims that it paid £22.51 for light bulbs that can be bought for 65p elsewhere.The Ministry of Defence (MoD) now says it is investigating newspaper claims that it paid £22.51 for light bulbs that can be bought for 65p elsewhere.
The MoD at first insisted the bulbs were highly specialised parts for a radar system, but later said the thrust of the Sun's story was correct.The MoD at first insisted the bulbs were highly specialised parts for a radar system, but later said the thrust of the Sun's story was correct.
It said it was "not denying" the claims after more information came to light.It said it was "not denying" the claims after more information came to light.
The Sun had published an invoice which it said it was shown by a soldier who works in the stores of a UK base.The Sun had published an invoice which it said it was shown by a soldier who works in the stores of a UK base.
The soldier, whom the Sun did not name, told the paper he could not ignore the "criminal" waste he saw every day.The soldier, whom the Sun did not name, told the paper he could not ignore the "criminal" waste he saw every day.
He was quoted as saying: "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 was quoted as saying: "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.
'Inexcusable''Inexcusable'
"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."
Defence chiefs were also said to have paid £103 a time for screws, believed to be on sale online for £2.60.Defence chiefs were also said to have paid £103 a time for screws, believed to be on sale online for £2.60.
In the paper, the soldier 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.In the paper, the soldier 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.
Reacting to the story earlier, Defence Secretary Liam Fox had described it as "inexcusable" and evidence of a waste of taxpayers' money by the previous Labour government.Reacting to the story earlier, Defence Secretary Liam Fox had described it as "inexcusable" and evidence of a waste of taxpayers' money by the previous Labour government.
Dr Fox told the 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 the 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 spokeswoman had earlier said of the bulb: "It was a lamp filament for the Watchman radar. The MoD uses about five per year."An MoD spokeswoman had earlier said of the bulb: "It was a lamp filament for the Watchman radar. The MoD uses about five per year."


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    • This waste is not new and is not solely the fault of the last government. I served in the RAF during the 1980's and the excessive cost payed for items then was just as bad as now as well as procurement over runs. Any one remember the Nimrod AEW fiasco? Dr Fox ought to check to find out who was in power then - Oh yes, it was the tories under Mrs Thatcher!
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    • This is hardly an example of Labour profligacy, Dr. Fox. Exactly the same kind of waste and 'lack of common sense' was endemic in the MoD when I worked for them - and that was with Mrs. Thatcher in charge. It has been going on for decades and will continue to go on for decades to come thanks to civil service inertia and the way defence procurement, for want of a better word, 'works'.
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    • If you ask me this is pure tabloid trash, her reply does not tie in with the pic on the sun website..We have the paperwork that shows that DofQ, in this instance is per unit - set at each unit. Some times DofQ is set at 25 - but not in this case. The paperwork had details of our source on - so details read to the MoD but not published publicly.Kind regardsVirginia
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