In 2009-10, public procurement in the UK was valued at over £236 billion, or approximately 15 per cent of GDP. The government is the single largest customer in the country. This magnitude of expenditure provides enormous potential to stimulate innovation and encourage economic growth – a potential which, according to the Committee, is not being realised, in its report, “Public procurement as a tool to stimulate innovation.”
Following an investigation of departments across the government and of the Department for Transport in particular, the Committee calls for a root and branch change in attitude towards adopting innovative solutions throughout the public sector. The report calls for the government to update its approach to procurement to achieve better value for money, promote economic growth, and encourage the translation of scientific research into new goods and services.
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