UK & World News
The latest UK & World news stories from the Press Association.
Tories attack Government contracts
04:05, Feb 10 2010
David Cameron is set to accuse Labour of wasting billions of pounds with its "secretive and inefficient" regime for handing out Government contracts.
The Tory leader is to promise to restore public trust in the system by publishing in full all contracts for goods and services worth more than £25,000.
In a video-link speech to the influential Technology, Entertainment, Design (TED) conference in California, he will highlight the "worst" deals struck by Whitehall since 1997.
The NHS IT system is £6 billion over budget and four years late, while modernisation of the National Offender Management System was £450 million over budget before being partially shelved in 2007, according to Mr Cameron.
Publishing contracts in full from January 2011 - including all performance indicators, break clauses and penalty measures - will allow people to root out wasteful spending, and help small businesses win more government contracts, he will say.
Romney returns to winning ways 00:05, Feb 12 2012
Mitt Romney has won the Maine caucuses by a slim margin, giving him a much needed boost following losses in three other contests in the past week, Maine Republican Party chairman Charlie Webster said. more
Salmond insists on no-strings poll 00:05, Feb 12 2012
Alex Salmond has again insisted that plans for an independence referendum must have "no strings attached" from Westminster. more
Call to embrace community energy 00:05, Feb 12 2012
The Government must overhaul the "closed shop" energy market by embracing community schemes, according to a new report. more
PM quashes Lansley speculation 00:05, Feb 12 2012
David Cameron has sought to quash speculation over the survival of health secretary Andrew Lansley and his controversial NHS shake-up. more
PM 'plans football racism summit' 00:05, Feb 12 2012
David Cameron is expected to step into the row over racism in football by staging a Downing Street summit on the issue. more
Anger over marriage tax breaks 00:05, Feb 12 2012
George Osborne has infuriated Tory MPs by reportedly ruling out tax breaks for married couples in the Budget. more
Murdoch expected in wake of arrests 22:05, Feb 11 2012
Rupert Murdoch is expected to fly to London next week after reassuring staff he would not sell The Sun in the wake of a second wave of arrests at the newspaper. more
Man charged with stabbing murder 21:05, Feb 11 2012
A man has been charged with murder after another man was stabbed to death on, police said. more
Protesters show Syria solidarity 19:05, Feb 11 2012
Hundreds of demonstrators have gathered in London in a show of solidarity with protesters across the Middle East and North Africa. more
Six bailed in corruption probe 19:05, Feb 11 2012
Six people arrested as part of an investigation into allegations of corruption have been released on bail, Scotland Yard said. more
The latest UK & World news stories from the Press Association.
