Lookig for the positive in a negative story

Headline "G4S and Serco could pay government £4 million over failures in asylum seeker housing contracts"

http://www.supplymanagement.com/news/2014/g4s-and-serco-could-pay-government-ps4-million-over-failures-in-asylum-seeker-housing

This appears to be another negative story about G4S and Serco.  However read on.....

"negotiations are taking place that could see up to £4 million being paid to the Home Office as a rebate for failure to hit KPI targets"

Let's congratulate the Home Office for two things:

1. Setting ambitious targets and making the contractors work for them.
2.  Writing contracts that are sufficient rigour that penalty clauses are effective and that contractors are being held to account.

Will the PAC applaud the work of the Home Office? Time will tell.

It should not be forgotten that the subject of housing for asylum seekers is a very emotive subject and any contractor that takes on this challenge should be encouraged.  There has been coverage in the press recently concerning the availability of housing and the costs associated with this

The story from the link below is typical of reporting at present:
http://www.theguardian.com/money/2014/jan/10/fergus-wilson-property-tycoon-mass-evictions

In this light G4S, Serco and other contractors working on housing contracts for asylum seekers are clearly facing a very difficult situation.