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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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| So, "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." In the light of this about turn, has the MoD any credibility what so ever? | |
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| This has nothing to do with the political party in power, this is to do with the government machines, its inefficiencies - a symptom of the disincentives of long term good financial management and reward for short term, immediate savings. Labour or any other political party have little control as they don't micromanage the budget for screws! The can, however, reward sensible procurements. | |
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| Good effort. There's certainly now been a lot more than £22.51 wasted on "investigating" this "issue". | Good effort. There's certainly now been a lot more than £22.51 wasted on "investigating" this "issue". |
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| Does anyone else feel slightly queasy at the BBC regurgitating the output of the gutter press at our expense? | Does anyone else feel slightly queasy at the BBC regurgitating the output of the gutter press at our expense? |
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| Wow! 300 comments at my time of writing. Whistle blowing? I think not! Misuse of taxpayers money yes! I have been complaining about taking services away from my budget and then charging Service men and women 4 times as much, which they can reclaim. ie. Photographs for ID, passports etc. 2007/8 = £250 per 1000. Budget stopped. (Cost to MoD: 4 photos 25p. Cost to taxpayer C£6 per 4 photos now. | Wow! 300 comments at my time of writing. Whistle blowing? I think not! Misuse of taxpayers money yes! I have been complaining about taking services away from my budget and then charging Service men and women 4 times as much, which they can reclaim. ie. Photographs for ID, passports etc. 2007/8 = £250 per 1000. Budget stopped. (Cost to MoD: 4 photos 25p. Cost to taxpayer C£6 per 4 photos now. |
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