The Government spends thousands on iPhone Apps
6th July the BBC reported after a FOI Request that the Government has spend tens of thousands of pounds developing iPhone and iPod touch applications.
6th July the BBC reported after a Freedom of Information request that the Government has spend tens of thousands of pounds developing iPhone and iPod touch applications. Despite being very well intentioned is this really the best way tax payers money should be spent. Especially in a down trodden economy. Are there not more pressing things to procure? Or heaven forbid pay off a meagre sliver of the National Debt.
Alas this is not the case. The most wasteful expenditure was the £32,775 it cost to develop the Jobcentre Plus application. Unless you have some savings it is highly improbable that you can afford to operate and iPhone while on job seekers allowance. There will be those who can. But on balance I do believe this application is not an appropriate use of Tax payers money.
I feel that now I have secured permanent employment and pay my share of taxes I am quite in my right to whinge at the Government. £33,000 or there about's is not a small about of money. It could have been spent on cancer drugs, defence, education, hospitals or salaries. Anything really other than an iPhone application.
Sure there were over 53,000 downloads of the Jobcentre Plus app which in itself is impressive, but it really is it appropriate to produce an iPhone application for people who go without so much. I wonder what if any common sense there is in Whitehall and the Civil Service if they so willingly waste money on these four frivolous unnecessary projects.
| Application | Cost |
|---|---|
| NHS Drinks Tracker | £10,000 |
| NHS Quit Smoking | £10,000 |
| Jobcentre Plus | £32,775 |
| DVLA Masterclass | £40,000 |
| Total: | £92,775 |
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