back to article UK.gov claims it's giving doubled cash to SMEs ... now 13%

Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude claimed today that the government was "on track" to double the monetary value of business going to small- and medium-sized firms by April this year. “Governments might be able to print money but it is SMEs who make it successful. SMEs are crucial to the future of this country and can save …

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  1. Blitheringeejit

    Real-world cost

    When awarding government contracts, I wonder whether anyone checks what proportion of the bidder's profits are taxed to the benefit of the UK exchequer..? The real cost of a contract is the amount paid to the provider, minus the proportion of that sum paid back to the government in tax by the provider. Big companies are much better at tax avoidance and offshoring, so it would be easier to justify awarding contracts to small companies if this was taken into consideration.

    No icon because .. there's no beancounter icon! How about it El Reg? It would sit nicely between Spawn of Satan and the flame....

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      RUBBISH....

      for instance all the maintenance for court buildings have been taken away from local companies and given to a national facilities company that used to escort prisoners to court.

      The man speaks with a forked tongue.

  2. Seanmon
    Meh

    In order to get a public contract

    You first have to prove you don't need it. True.

  3. Bob Vistakin
    Devil

    A first class piss taker

    During the corruption exposure it emerged Francis Mauds second house in London was yards from his first: http://goo.gl/JWLGt Fortunately, like all the others in the House of Corruption caught red handed, he promised he only did this exactly during the 4 year period for some mysterious reason they were only investigated for, unlike the public who have to keep records for 7 years for HMRC and who can got back indefinitely if required. So, I'm sorry but I didn't read past his name as pretty much any time I see it I just can't get past his open piss taking from the people he promised to serve.

  4. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Related SME news article this mornin

    (FrenchRadio) one of the presidential candidates pointed out that all the big businesses in the EU are just trying to save costs by downsizing, off-shoring, Globalising everything to China. The only companies that are recruiting, creating local jobs in France are the SME - small and medium enterprises. Is it the same in the UK?

    The banks don't seem to be making it easy for SME's to expand, hence our government doubling funding to SME's seems only good!

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Banks

      They offer loans to SME's but at extortionate rates demanding the loan be insured and want your own house as collateral to the loan even if you are a limited company.

      The other trick is to take away well managed over draught facilities then offer you loans at higher rates.

      Yes Lloyd's I'm pointing my finger at you.

      Then they claim they can't reach the government lending figures because there is no take up of the lending.

      After a conversation lasting 25 minutes my business bank manager at Lloyds asked me...'so what kind of business are you in then?'

      I've been banking with them for 22 years!

      1. John Smith 19 Gold badge
        Unhappy

        Re: Banks

        "After a conversation lasting 25 minutes my business bank manager at Lloyds asked me...'so what kind of business are you in then?'"

        Oh yes. The myth that you're loyalty will *somehow* be rewarded.

        That will only change when banks *fear* customers leaving them.

  5. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Lying

    Little Sh*t!

  6. John Smith 19 Gold badge
    Unhappy

    "the end of "procurement oligopoly"."

    But later on...

    "Sub-contracting from bigger government providers has helped plump up those figures, the Cabinet Office noted."

    Bottom line.

    HMG still knocks out the multi £Bn decade long contracts to the Usual Suspects and *maybe* they will break them down a bit.

    Had the govt done the splitting *upfront* they'd get a bigger pool of suppliers at (possibly) more competitive prices.

    While govt depts have *that* attitude the playing field will *never* be level.

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