Scottish Independence and Procurement

In no way is this blog politically motivated but the recent Scottish Government's Independence has a number of bold assertions.  I take issue with the comment regarding increasing procurement on conventional defence systems.

http://www.supplymanagement.com/news/2013/significant-investment-in-defence-procurement-for-independent-scotland

Firstly, how will the Scottish Government create an intelligent customer in order to buy its coastal patrol boats? The UK MoD has spent years and millions evolving its procurement functionality but yet the Scottish Government will develop this within a few years of independence. Remarkable.

Mr Salmond would be well served by taking professional advice on procurement practices, especially on EU compliance. The following extract from the article follows on from the identification of shipbuilding on the Clyde as important to the economy.

The white paper added that an independent government would ensure its defence budget will “support the procurement of equipment and services in Scotland, where consistent with European procurement rules”

Mr Salmond would be counselled to separate the two; as any preferential treatment of the former would be in contravention of the latter.  For pure devilment, what would happen if a Bulgarian ship yard provided a more economically advantageous proposal.

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