http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstop ... ublic.html

Yes but will he follow through and actually do it? This is so sensible and common sense that it will never get past the civil servants.

Start with PFI 'contracts'

That will not happen with Gordon in power, they will show that the whole PFI exercise has been a monumental waste of money.

I doubt it'll even happen when Dave gets in

True this will probably not be done but it should.
Whilst the bidding is going on the contracts should be confidential but once they have been finalised and agreed then they should be published. Only if it contains national defense etc should they remain secret and then they should be scrutinised by an independant group to ensure we the taxpayers havent been shafted once again.
All contracts should also have huge penalty clauses if they are not delivered on time, in full and to the original agreed specification and quality.

Something like the National Audit Office, or perhaps a Select Committee?

No an independant group that actually knows what its doing. So that would exclude a select comittee though if its the NAO then there decision has to be binding and it must be ring fenced from any political interferance.

..and that's the biggest problem with the electorate in this country. When the politicians don't do something, we just shrug our shoulders and do nothing. Apathy rules....but only when I can be bothered to get out of bed.

It has to be public then at least competitors will be able to inspect the deals, and if they lost the bid though were the better value then they could challenge it in court. That could also apply to the departments who invariably have their work outsourced to "save money" when the reality is that the departmental bid is usually the cheapest but is handicapped with a huge 20% penalty for "cost over runs".

Another option is to make the minster and head civil servant personally liable for any legal fees and difference in the budget if the courts go against the winning bidder and award the bid to the challenger.

Well as the advice, given by government departments, to its selected suppliers is specifically aimed at stopping commercial information becoming available through FOI enquiries this seems more than slightly contradictory.

Yes they use the commercial confidentiality excuse all the time. Maybe the condition of any contract is it will be made public.

Thats why I say we should vote for a do nothing party after the bidget deficit is neutalised whereby everything will be kept the same and nothing new will be done anything new to be done will be left to the people.

Probably would give people a bit of initiative if they stop blaming the government for all thier problems (on second thoughts that's impossible.)