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Public Accounts

The hon. Gentleman is discussing a very interesting point about procurement, and I take his point, but is he aware that one of the recent problems with MOD procurement has been the so-called smart procurement system that was introduced about eight years ago? It has, perhaps unintentionally, had the effect of penalising small suppliers and small companies in the defence field. It causes great problems for small companies, which can often do things much more cheaply, effectively and swiftly than some of the giants. Is the hon. Gentleman aware of that problem?