Public services can either be delivered in-house or purchased from external providers in the private or third sector. Roughly a third of all public expenditure goes on procurement, totalling £292 billion in 2018-19. It is therefore crucial to assess how goods and services are being purchased and examine what different departments are spending their money on.

In addition, while much of this spending results in efficient and effective public services, prominent outsourcing failures have emphasised that more can be done to improve public procurement and ensure high quality, value-for-money services in the long-term.