G-Cloud cost £4.93m to set up, says Maude

The government’s G-Cloud programmecost £4.93m to set up, Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude said in response to a parliamentary question.

Maude said the estimated savings of the programme were £340m. Asked for an update on the implementation cloud computing in government he said the G-Cloud programme is making good progress.

The next version of the G-Cloud framework will be released in the second week of May, with 30 services having been bought through the first version.

Denise McDonagh, G-Cloud director, wrote in a recent blog post: “The first iteration of the G-Cloud framework attracted over 500 suppliers. I’m confident that the next version, due very soon, will increase that number.  Some of the big players who didn’t put a response in first time round doubtless will this time, and smaller companies who missed out will do so too.”

In a separate question Maude told MPs that 75 of the 353 English local authorities (21%) had published contracts on Contracts Finder, the online platform for SMEs to search public sector tenders under £10,000.

“The Cabinet Office has been working closely with the Department for Communities and Local Government so that they can assist with embedding the use of Contracts Finder within local authorities.

“We have been raising awareness of Contracts Finder through various speaking engagements and demonstrations to local authorities,” he said.