Government outlines £70bn works schedule
The government's growing taste for the online open data movement has prompted details of £70bn of potential future government contracts to be released by Cabinet ministers Francis Maude and Vince Cable.
Data has been published on contracts proposed for the next five years across 13 different sectors including construction and property, along with energy, medical and police equipment among others.
The government said in statement: "Publishing data on future contract needs allows government and industry to work together to spot any skills and investment gaps so they can act to safeguard UK competitiveness and growth."
Cabinet Office minister, Francis Maude, said: "Industry leaders recognise the value of publishing these pipelines and that is why they support our reforms which will boost growth.
"Publishing data on what we plan to buy – whether it's tunnels or computers – means we can identify skills gaps sooner and give industry a heads up so UK businesses are in a better position to compete."
The Government has also published an initial analysis on strategic capability, using construction and tunnelling as an example, and identifying some of the skills and changes required to meet future demand. In future the Government will publish plans for other key sectors.
Data on contracts can be found at http://www.contractsfinder.businesslink.gov.uk/
The sectors covered include:
- Aid/international development
- Clinical and medical life sciences
- Police services and equipment
- Probation and offender services
- Welfare to work
- Energy and utilities
- ICT
- Office Solutions
- Print and print management
- Property and facilities management
- Travel
The tunnelling and construction strategic capability plan can be found at: www.bis.gov.uk/procurementandgrowth
For proposed construction work see http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/infrastructure_pipeline_data_update.htm
