Free, unrestricted use is allowed on a non commercial basis. The author's name and the address of this website must be incorporated in any reproduction of the material for any use and by any means. This is the portion of the budget allocated to purchasing services and goods for the various ministries, authorities and other arms of the executive branch. It was the famous management consultant, Parkinson, who once wrote that government officials are likely to approve a multi-billion dollar nuclear power plant much more speedily that they are likely to authorize a hundred dollar expenditure on a bicycle parking device. They tend to confuse their daily, household-type, decisions with the processes and considerations which should permeate governmental decision making.
Procurement is divided to defence and non-defence spending.
Other, lesser cases, litter the press daily. But the picture is not that grim. Most governments in the West succeeded in reigning in and fully controlling this particular budget item. There are many problems with public procurement. At least, this is the public image of these expenditures.