It gives me no pleasure to rise to talk about a failed procurement project that has cost every citizen in Somerset a great deal of wasted money and time. Southwest One is a joint venture between Somerset county council, Taunton Deane council, Avon and Somerset police and IBM—one of the...

It gives me no pleasure to rise to talk about a failed procurement project that has cost every citizen in Somerset a great deal of wasted money and time. Southwest One is a joint venture between Somerset county council, Taunton Deane council, Avon and Somerset police and IBM—one of the...

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many temporary visas have been issued to foreign nationals employed by IBM (India) to fulfil contracts between IBM and Avon and Somerset Constabulary.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many temporary visas have been issued to foreign nationals employed by IBM (India) to fulfil contracts between IBM and Avon and Somerset Constabulary.

Hear, hear.

Hear, hear.

I agree with the hon. Gentleman. The assessment of those questions, in a nutshell, is the role of the Audit Commission in local government. One of the commission's strengths, over its quarter-century, has been the way it has evolved to take changing circumstances into account in assessing how councils are...

I agree with the hon. Gentleman. The assessment of those questions, in a nutshell, is the role of the Audit Commission in local government. One of the commission's strengths, over its quarter-century, has been the way it has evolved to take changing circumstances into account in assessing how councils are...

I congratulate the hon. Member for Bridgwater (Mr. Liddell- Grainger) on securing this debate. He knows where I come from. In a former life, I was an auditor with responsibility for auditing local authorities and other organisations on risk management, corporate governance and internal performance. When I was a councillor...

I congratulate the hon. Member for Bridgwater (Mr. Liddell- Grainger) on securing this debate. He knows where I come from. In a former life, I was an auditor with responsibility for auditing local authorities and other organisations on risk management, corporate governance and internal performance. When I was a councillor...

This is the first time that I have had the honour to serve under your chairmanship, Mr. Amess, and I am delighted to do so. The Minister is attending back-to-back debates, which is the latest sport. Perhaps we could have a whole week of debates with the Minister simply staying...

This is the first time that I have had the honour to serve under your chairmanship, Mr. Amess, and I am delighted to do so. The Minister is attending back-to-back debates, which is the latest sport. Perhaps we could have a whole week of debates with the Minister simply staying...

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on the role and function of the Audit Commission in local government.

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on the role and function of the Audit Commission in local government.

I am grateful for the chance to introduce this debate. Before I go into detail, it is my duty to declare two specific and important interests in this matter. First and foremost, I am obviously a Conservative, and it was the last Conservative Government who introduced the private finance initiative...

I am grateful for the chance to introduce this debate. Before I go into detail, it is my duty to declare two specific and important interests in this matter. First and foremost, I am obviously a Conservative, and it was the last Conservative Government who introduced the private finance initiative...

Name him!

Name him!

Not for the first time—for the second, I think—I am left somewhat breathless in a debate with the hon. Member for Bridgwater (Mr. Liddell-Grainger). He speaks with passion about the issue. If he carries on at this rate, the Parliament channel will be competing with the ““The Apprentice”” and other...

Not for the first time—for the second, I think—I am left somewhat breathless in a debate with the hon. Member for Bridgwater (Mr. Liddell-Grainger). He speaks with passion about the issue. If he carries on at this rate, the Parliament channel will be competing with the ““The Apprentice”” and other...

I thank the hon. Gentleman—that councillor's name is Paul Buchanan. As Liberal Democrats go, he has the sharpest of brains. He was on the ISiS project, he worked with Jenny Hastings and he knows where all the bodies are buried. He has made no secret of the fact that Alan...

I thank the hon. Gentleman—that councillor's name is Paul Buchanan. As Liberal Democrats go, he has the sharpest of brains. He was on the ISiS project, he worked with Jenny Hastings and he knows where all the bodies are buried. He has made no secret of the fact that Alan...

indicated assent.

indicated assent.

The hon. Gentleman agrees with that; he is nodding. I have heard what the hon. Gentleman has to say. I think the wider world has as well, not only through Westminster Hall, but also now through this Chamber. Let me reiterate what I said to the hon. Gentleman earlier. Failures...

The hon. Gentleman agrees with that; he is nodding. I have heard what the hon. Gentleman has to say. I think the wider world has as well, not only through Westminster Hall, but also now through this Chamber. Let me reiterate what I said to the hon. Gentleman earlier. Failures...

Adjournment debate on local government PFI contracts and the case of SouthWest One and Somerset County Council.

Adjournment debate on local government PFI contracts and the case of SouthWest One and Somerset County Council.

The hon. Lady has been very helpful with regard to the ongoing situation of Southwest One in the county of Somerset. I have subsequently learned something about it, so could we have a debate on the matter? The Government's consultancy body, 4ps, was brought in to sort out the deal...

The hon. Lady has been very helpful with regard to the ongoing situation of Southwest One in the county of Somerset. I have subsequently learned something about it, so could we have a debate on the matter? The Government's consultancy body, 4ps, was brought in to sort out the deal...

I took up the matter when the hon. Gentleman raised it before, and I thought we had agreed that it was not a political matter. I do not know whether he has been in touch with the National Audit Office, as I suggested—I see that he has. To get to...

I took up the matter when the hon. Gentleman raised it before, and I thought we had agreed that it was not a political matter. I do not know whether he has been in touch with the National Audit Office, as I suggested—I see that he has. To get to...

(3) what assessment she has made of the effects on existing local services in Somerset County Council and Taunton Deane Borough Council of the recent contract with Southwest One; and if she will make a statement;

(3) what assessment she has made of the effects on existing local services in Somerset County Council and Taunton Deane Borough Council of the recent contract with Southwest One; and if she will make a statement;

(2) what estimate she has made of forecast effects on costs of the procurement of local services by Southwest One, broken down by area of service provision;

(2) what estimate she has made of forecast effects on costs of the procurement of local services by Southwest One, broken down by area of service provision;

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) if she will place in the Library a copy of the business case related to the provision of public services by single joint venture partnerships; and if she will make a statement;

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) if she will place in the Library a copy of the business case related to the provision of public services by single joint venture partnerships; and if she will make a statement;