Debate on a motion to take note of the Public Accounts Committee 5th, 8th, 14th to the 29th, 31st to the 35th, 37th, 38th, 42nd and the 50th Reports and the 1st and 2nd Special Reports of Session 2007-08, and of the Treasury Minutes on these Reports (Cm 7366 and 7453). Agreed on question.

Debate on a motion to take note of the Public Accounts Committee 5th, 8th, 14th to the 29th, 31st to the 35th, 37th, 38th, 42nd and the 50th Reports and the 1st and 2nd Special Reports of Session 2007-08, and of the Treasury Minutes on these Reports (Cm 7366 and...

In fact, the Office of Government Commerce is in the middle of developing a system that does just that. It is called the major projects review group, and it aims to get a handle on strategically important projects, whether they are large or small, and do precisely what my hon....

In fact, the Office of Government Commerce is in the middle of developing a system that does just that. It is called the major projects review group, and it aims to get a handle on strategically important projects, whether they are large or small, and do precisely what my hon....

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for reminding me about that session. That gentleman did come before us. He was very frank, and he did take responsibility. I agree that he was hung out to dry, and I think that the heads of many others should have been on...

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for reminding me about that session. That gentleman did come before us. He was very frank, and he did take responsibility. I agree that he was hung out to dry, and I think that the heads of many others should have been on...

A fine wine takes the longest.

A fine wine takes the longest.

Well, revolutions might happen, and we are all socialists now, so I have not altogether given up hope. I am very well trained, thanks to the Committee and to the hon. Member for Gainsborough. I want to make that clear, because it is such an effective Committee. I now want...

Well, revolutions might happen, and we are all socialists now, so I have not altogether given up hope. I am very well trained, thanks to the Committee and to the hon. Member for Gainsborough. I want to make that clear, because it is such an effective Committee. I now want...

I should like to begin by saying how much sheer pleasure I get from being a member of the PAC. I am very enthusiastic about it, and consider it the most interesting Committee appointment that I have ever had. The work that we do is an enormous source of satisfaction,...

I should like to begin by saying how much sheer pleasure I get from being a member of the PAC. I am very enthusiastic about it, and consider it the most interesting Committee appointment that I have ever had. The work that we do is an enormous source of satisfaction,...

Indeed. That is why I believe that such projects need to be properly managed, and key people need to take responsibility for them. If there is a properly drafted project management scheme, those responsible should be easily identifiable. As my hon. Friend said, that did not happen and, as he...

Indeed. That is why I believe that such projects need to be properly managed, and key people need to take responsibility for them. If there is a properly drafted project management scheme, those responsible should be easily identifiable. As my hon. Friend said, that did not happen and, as he...

Before my hon. Friend moves on from the single payment scheme, let me point out that, although there might not have been adequate project management, a series of Office of Government Commerce reviews was published in the back of one of the NAO reports on the Rural Payments Agency. They...

Before my hon. Friend moves on from the single payment scheme, let me point out that, although there might not have been adequate project management, a series of Office of Government Commerce reviews was published in the back of one of the NAO reports on the Rural Payments Agency. They...

It is a great pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell); he is never a feather to fall silently on water. I begin by apologising to the House for not being here at the beginning of the debate as I had a prior engagement. I gave...

It is a great pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell); he is never a feather to fall silently on water. I begin by apologising to the House for not being here at the beginning of the debate as I had a prior engagement. I gave...

That is good to hear, and it is right that we should do it. However, it is a little late. It is closing the stable door after several big horses have bolted—and they are now wandering around the countryside, putting money into contracting firms and kicking people. Until now, the...

That is good to hear, and it is right that we should do it. However, it is a little late. It is closing the stable door after several big horses have bolted—and they are now wandering around the countryside, putting money into contracting firms and kicking people. Until now, the...

Absolutely. We need to keep a running analysis as the situation develops, as it puts us in a more powerful position. However, in most subjects, we are not in that powerful position. The best instance is the Ministry of Defence information system, with which we dealt yesterday. The contract is...

Absolutely. We need to keep a running analysis as the situation develops, as it puts us in a more powerful position. However, in most subjects, we are not in that powerful position. The best instance is the Ministry of Defence information system, with which we dealt yesterday. The contract is...

Does the hon. Gentleman agree that the most interesting thing about the NAO's regular reports on the Olympics—I think that there have been three or four—is not simply that they are about the Olympics but that they are not ““posthumous””, as he described it. They look forward to an event...

Does the hon. Gentleman agree that the most interesting thing about the NAO's regular reports on the Olympics—I think that there have been three or four—is not simply that they are about the Olympics but that they are not ““posthumous””, as he described it. They look forward to an event...

I am grovelling hard.

I am grovelling hard.

I have to say that in 16 years in this House, I have never seen my hon. Friend grovel. He has obviously decided that I have no influence in these matters and his grovelling must be going elsewhere. I wish him luck with it. My hon. Friend made some extremely...

I have to say that in 16 years in this House, I have never seen my hon. Friend grovel. He has obviously decided that I have no influence in these matters and his grovelling must be going elsewhere. I wish him luck with it. My hon. Friend made some extremely...

May I just point out that I was not on a beach: I was speaking at a symposium on the changing role of Parliament and the budget process.

May I just point out that I was not on a beach: I was speaking at a symposium on the changing role of Parliament and the budget process.

That is entirely typical of the hon. Gentleman's commitment to his duties and how seriously he takes the whole issue of financial control and probity. The hon. Member for Henley (John Howell) gave the House the benefit of his experience of introducing shared services in a diverse and complex organisation....

That is entirely typical of the hon. Gentleman's commitment to his duties and how seriously he takes the whole issue of financial control and probity. The hon. Member for Henley (John Howell) gave the House the benefit of his experience of introducing shared services in a diverse and complex organisation....

I recall, in a former life, being required at very short order to remove all ruminant feeds from every mill in the country. We did not have the staff with the project management skills to do that at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food at the time, so we...

I recall, in a former life, being required at very short order to remove all ruminant feeds from every mill in the country. We did not have the staff with the project management skills to do that at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food at the time, so we...

I agree with the hon. Lady's general observation. There are weaknesses in particular Departments, but there are also weaknesses because of the silo nature of Whitehall. The connections between Departments are often not as strong as any of us would like to see. I reassure her that the OGC is...

I agree with the hon. Lady's general observation. There are weaknesses in particular Departments, but there are also weaknesses because of the silo nature of Whitehall. The connections between Departments are often not as strong as any of us would like to see. I reassure her that the OGC is...

It is a great pleasure to have the opportunity to respond, once more, to our debate on the Public Accounts Committee's reports—this is the third time that I have done so. Today's debate has demonstrated not only the wide-ranging nature of the PAC's work, but the fascinating insight that it...

It is a great pleasure to have the opportunity to respond, once more, to our debate on the Public Accounts Committee's reports—this is the third time that I have done so. Today's debate has demonstrated not only the wide-ranging nature of the PAC's work, but the fascinating insight that it...