Debate on Thursday, 12 March 2009, in the House of Commons, led by Edward Leigh. The answering member was Angela Eagle.

Public Accounts

Debate on a motion to take note of the 30th, the 36th, the 39th to the 41st, the 43rd to the 49th, the 51st and the 57th reports of the Public Accounts Committee of session 2007-08(HC 302, HC 332, HC 413, HC 447, HC 463, HC 519, HC 532, HC 546, HC 558, HC 584, HC 508, HC 641, HC 601 and HC 684), and of the Treasury Minutes on those Reports (Cm 7493, 7522 and 7545). Agreed on question.

Secondary information

Type: Parliamentary proceeding
Reference: 489 c481-527
Session: 2008-09
Department: Committee of Public Accounts
Chamber / Committee: House of Commons chamber
Related items: Treasury minutes on the Public Accounts Committee thirty-sixth (HC 332), fortieth (HC 447) and forty-third to forty-fourth reports (HC 519 and HC 532) of session 2007-08.
Wednesday, 5 November 2008
Command papers
House of Lords
House of Commons; Treasury minutes on the Public Accounts Committee thirtieth (HC 302), thirty-ninth (HC 413), forty-first (HC 463) and forty-fifth to forty-seventh (HC 546, HC 558 and HC 584) reports of session 2007-08.
Tuesday, 16 December 2008
Command papers
House of Lords
House of Commons; Treasury minutes on the Public Accounts Committee forty-eighth (HC 508), forty-ninth (HC 641) and fifty-first to fifty-seventh (HC 601, HC 571, HC 655, HC 251, HC 712, HC 814 and HC 684) reports of session 2007-08.
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
Command papers
House of Commons; Shared services in the Department for Transport and its agencies. Public Accounts Committee fifty-seventh report with proceedings, evidence (HC 684-i not printed separately) and appendices.
Monday, 17 November 2008
Parliamentary committees
House of Commons; The procurement of the National Roads Telecommunications Services. Public Accounts Committee forty-sixth report with proceedings, evidence (HC 558-i not printed separately) and appendices.
Monday, 30 June 2008
Parliamentary committees
House of Commons; Reducing the risk of violent crime. Public Accounts Committee forty-fifth report with proceedings, evidence (HC 546-i not printed separately) and appendices.
Monday, 30 June 2008
Parliamentary committees
House of Commons; The rollout of the Jobcentre Plus office network. Public Accounts Committee forty-fourth report of session 2007-08 with proceedings and evidence (HC 532-i not printed separately).
Monday, 23 June 2008
Parliamentary committees
House of Commons; Managing financial resources to deliver better public services. Public Accounts Committee forty-third report of session 2007-08 with proceedings and evidence (HC 519-i not printed separately).
Monday, 23 June 2008
Parliamentary committees
House of Commons; Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs: management of expenditure. Public Accounts Committee fortieth report with proceedings, evidence (HC 447-i 2007-08 not printed separately) and appendices.
Monday, 23 June 2008
Parliamentary committees
House of Commons; NHS pay modernisation: new contracts for general practice services in England. Public Accounts Committee forty-first report with proceedings, evidence (HC 463-i not printed separately) and appendices.
Monday, 23 June 2008
Parliamentary committees
House of Commons; HM Treasury: making changes in operational PFI projects. Public Accounts Committee thirty-sixth report with proceedings, evidence (HC 332-i 2007-08 not printed separately) and appendices.
Monday, 23 June 2008
Parliamentary committees
House of Commons; Management of large business corporation tax. Public Accounts Committee thirtieth report with proceedings, evidence (HC 302-i not printed separately) and appendices.
Monday, 2 June 2008
Parliamentary committees
House of Commons; Making grants efficiently in the culture, media and sport sector. Public Accounts Committee forty-ninth report with proceedings, evidence (HC 641-i not printed separately) and appendices.
Tuesday, 15 July 2008
Parliamentary committees
House of Commons; The supervision of community orders in England and Wales. Public Accounts Committee forty-eighth report with proceedings, evidence (HC 508-i not printed separately) and appendices.
Tuesday, 15 July 2008
Parliamentary committees
House of Commons; Revenue and Customs Prosecuctions Office. Public Accounts Committee fifty-first report with proceedings, evidence (HC 601-i not printed separately) and appendices.
Monday, 20 October 2008
Parliamentary committees
House of Commons; Meeting needs? The Offenders' Learning and Skills Service. Public Accounts Committee forty-seventh report with proceedings, evidence (HC 584-i not printed separately) and appendices.
Monday, 30 June 2008
Parliamentary committees
House of Commons; Preparing to deliver the 14-19 education reforms in England. Public Accounts Committee thirty-ninth report with proceedings, evidence (HC 413-i not printed separately) and appendices.
Monday, 23 June 2008
Parliamentary committees
House of Commons
Proceeding contributions: Angela Eagle | 489 c520 (490 8MC) (Link to this contribution) The figure relates to the last Public Accounts Committee and National Audit Office report on the mat...; Richard Bacon | 489 c509-13 (Link to this contribution) Indeed. The hon. Member for Glasgow, South-West did not actually say just now that all farmers are t...; John Pugh | 489 c513 (Link to this contribution) The hon. Gentleman mentioned Microsoft. He will be aware of course that, in the Building Schools for...; Richard Bacon | 489 c513-4 (Link to this contribution) When anyone comes to see us, we naturally think that they will have a vested interest. I am reminded...; Angela Eagle | 489 c513 (Link to this contribution) I hope that the hon. Gentleman recognises that the Government have accepted all the recommendations ...; Richard Bacon | 489 c513 (Link to this contribution) I am grateful to the Minister for that intervention; it is good that she has put that on the record....; Greg Hands | 489 c514-8 (Link to this contribution) It is a great pleasure to respond to this afternoon's debate, which has been of extremely high quali...; Angela Eagle | 489 c518-9 (Link to this contribution) It is a pleasure to respond to what has been, in the tradition of the debates that we have here, a w...; Greg Hands | 489 c520 (Link to this contribution) The Exchequer Secretary has mentioned 31 per cent. twice. Does that represent a decrease from a rece...; Angela Eagle | 489 c520-1 (Link to this contribution) I am not going to argue for more consultants from the Dispatch Box, but we should use consultancy se...; Richard Bacon | 489 c521 (Link to this contribution) I am delighted to hear the Minister say that that observation should not go unnoticed by senior mana...; Angela Eagle | 489 c521-5 (Link to this contribution) I agree that that is precisely what needs to happen. At the suggestion of hon. Members at the previo...; Edward Leigh | 489 c525-6 (Link to this contribution) It is a great pleasure to spend three or four minutes thanking all those who have taken part in what...; Lord Touhig | 489 c482 (Link to this contribution) I apologise to the hon. Gentleman and to the House—I would like to take part in this debate but I ha...; Edward Leigh | 489 c481-2 (Link to this contribution) I beg to move,"That this House takes note of the 30th, the 36th, the 39th to the 41st, the 43rd to t...; Edward Leigh | 489 c483 (Link to this contribution) Yes, we need a much better developed training system for civil servants. I have discussed the issue...; Baroness Browning | 489 c483 (Link to this contribution) I totally agree. It is typical for civil servants to be moved sideways if there is some terrible pro...; Edward Leigh | 489 c482-3 (Link to this contribution) That is a very important point with which I agree entirely. It is very frustrating. This morning, th...; Greg Knight | 489 c484 (Link to this contribution) I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to his Committee's 57th report. I notice that on page 5, t...; Edward Leigh | 489 c484-8 (Link to this contribution) It may be that we should pursue that matter further. I suspect the consequences are that promotion f...; Greg Knight | 489 c484 (Link to this contribution) I totally accept what my hon. Friend is saying, but I note that in its response to his report, the T...; Edward Leigh | 489 c484 (Link to this contribution) Probably, yes. Rather than obtaining the benefits of German efficiency, the Department for Transport...; Richard Bacon | 489 c484 (Link to this contribution) The computer says "Nein"!; Richard Bacon | 489 c490 (Link to this contribution) Does the hon. Gentleman agree that the discussion about the use of consultants is often very general...; Austin Mitchell | 489 c488-90 (Link to this contribution) I apologise for the delay in getting to my feet, Mr. Deputy Speaker; I was halfway through writing t...; Austin Mitchell | 489 c490-1 (Link to this contribution) That is a specialised expertise and it is relevant to employ it as necessary. However, the problem g...; Douglas Carswell | 489 c503 (Link to this contribution) I thank my hon. Friend for that intervention. If people believe that the primary purpose of the Brit...; Ian Davidson | 489 c503-4 (Link to this contribution) The work of the Public Accounts Committee is immensely helpful and constructive, and we do a good jo...; Douglas Carswell | 489 c502 (Link to this contribution) I personally believe that we could get better bang for our buck if we spent more of the £34 billion ...; Edward Leigh | 489 c502 (Link to this contribution) It is not just a choice between buying American and buying US. As we saw with the Chinooks, we can b...; Ian Davidson | 489 c502 (Link to this contribution) When the hon. Gentleman says that he is against protectionist procurement, is he saying, as the Libe...; Douglas Carswell | 489 c502 (Link to this contribution) I am and always have been a staunch advocate of off-the-shelf defence procurement. I believe that we...; Ian Davidson | 489 c502 (Link to this contribution) Does the hon. Gentleman accept that in some circumstances of defence procurement, genuine competitio...; Douglas Carswell | 489 c501-2 (Link to this contribution) Absolutely. I welcome any initiative from any part of the House—this is a cross-party issue, not a p...; John Pugh | 489 c501 (Link to this contribution) It is not my job to defend them, but to be fair to the Government, they are developing the "line of ...; Douglas Carswell | 489 c500-1 (Link to this contribution) This is the first time that I have taken part in a debate on the work of the Public Accounts Committ...; Baroness Browning | 489 c500 (Link to this contribution) I appreciate the Exchequer Secretary's remarks, which are welcome. Being responsible for overview an...; Austin Mitchell | 489 c491-3 (Link to this contribution) I am dimly aware of that case. It casts a comic light on the whole procedure, but I am concerned abo...; John Pugh | 489 c493-6 (Link to this contribution) One of the most worthwhile things that I do in the House of Commons is serve on the Public Accounts ...; Baroness Browning | 489 c496-500 (Link to this contribution) I join the Chairman of our Committee, my hon. Friend the Member for Gainsborough (Mr. Leigh), in tha...; Angela Eagle | 489 c500 (Link to this contribution) The hon. Lady is making a series of pertinent observations, which I think stem from her experiences ...; Richard Bacon | 489 c491 (Link to this contribution) I think that the Minister was getting a bit excited at the thought that suddenly there was nearly £7...; Austin Mitchell | 489 c491 (Link to this contribution) The problem is a psychological one—we like the reassurance that a consultants' report gives us befor...; Richard Bacon | 489 c491 (Link to this contribution) I have remembered what I wanted to say. The hon. Gentleman mentioned that people in government feel ...; Austin Mitchell | 489 c491 (Link to this contribution) The figure includes consultants employed by local government.; Angela Eagle | 489 c491 (Link to this contribution) Where did my hon. Friend get his figure of £70 billion for Government spending on consultants? For t...; Richard Bacon | 489 c509 (Link to this contribution) And very few farmers—; Edward Leigh | 489 c509 (Link to this contribution) Or members of the royal family.; Ian Davidson | 489 c508 (Link to this contribution) Ah—the Chairman wants to intervene.; Ian Davidson | 489 c508 (Link to this contribution) I have some sympathy with that perspective, but it is a bit like saying that the foxes will always r...; Baroness Browning | 489 c508 (Link to this contribution) In that particular case, was not the problem that the department did not get the fees agreed with ba...; Baroness Browning | 489 c509 (Link to this contribution) Or farmers.; Richard Bacon | 489 c509 (Link to this contribution) It is a great pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Glasgow, South-West (Mr. Davidson), who is one ...; Ian Davidson | 489 c509 (Link to this contribution) I have nothing to add to that point. Farmers, as we are well aware, are rapacious and will take any...; Edward Leigh | 489 c509 (Link to this contribution) If barristers are generally thieves, then I am a very poor thief.; Ian Davidson | 489 c506 (Link to this contribution) I do not believe that protectionist procurement necessarily leads to that result. All the evidence t...; Douglas Carswell | 489 c507 (Link to this contribution) Does not the hon. Gentleman agree that one reason why there has been such a big increase in the use ...; Ian Davidson | 489 c507-8 (Link to this contribution) No, that is not my view. Most of the urgent operational requirement contracts have arisen because th...; Baroness Browning | 489 c504 (Link to this contribution) I would hope not. For the record, does the hon. Gentleman include within such partisanship views on ...; Ian Davidson | 489 c504 (Link to this contribution) The hon. Lady was not the Member to whom I referred.; John Pugh | 489 c505 (Link to this contribution) Is not the consequence that, presumably, the Treasury employs people whose educational qualification...; Ian Davidson | 489 c504-5 (Link to this contribution) I was going to restrict myself from that particular area. I do not take the view that attitudes to t...; Douglas Carswell | 489 c506 (Link to this contribution) Does the hon. Gentleman believe that protectionist procurement sometimes means that our soldiers in ...; Ian Davidson | 489 c505-6 (Link to this contribution) Like the hon. Gentleman, I have been canvassing, and sometimes it is difficult to know whether peopl...; Richard Bacon | 489 c520 (Link to this contribution) The organisation that we are considering—namely, UK Government—spends £600 billion in total. Of that...; Ian Davidson | 489 c483 (Link to this contribution) Is not one of the lessons to be drawn from the roll-out of the Jobcentre Plus office network shown i...; Edward Leigh | 489 c484 (Link to this contribution) I did not go to Oxbridge myself. I do not know, Mr. Deputy Speaker, whether you went to Oxbridge—you...; Edward Leigh | 489 c484 (Link to this contribution) To be honest, I do not recall—we have 60 sessions a year; other members of the Committee are here—bu...
Subjects: Accountability Audit Cost effectiveness Civil service Government departments Public expenditure National Audit Office Standards Committee of Public Accounts
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Parliamentary proceeding on www.publications.parliament.uk

Public Accounts

Secondary information

Librarians' tools