Member

I make it clear that we on these Benches will not support a vote if one is called on this, while recognising that we all face a problem and that the record of public procurement has been poor over the last 15 years and more and needs to be reversed. I say to those on the Conservative Benches that, if we are going to be critical of this Government, procurement and the balance between local and central issues, please let us get together on the devolution White Paper which has just come out, which—to my horror and amazement—pursues the Michael Gove model of giving everything to directly elected mayors and taking powers away from local communities to strategic authorities that are going to be mayors without proper accountability, except to the Secretary of State.