Crothers said: "We want to ensure GPS framework agreements are driving the greatest competition, and achieving a wider range of suppliers, including SMEs, in the ICT market. I have therefore asked David Shields to assess how we are using these frameworks so that we can achieve the most effective results for everyone."

"This pause will allow us to look at whether we are getting this right and how we can minimise duplication across Government."

, Richard Bennett, managing director of PSN supplier Updata, has hit out at the difficulty of procurement at a local government level, claiming that despite the right noises being made in the Cabinet Office it is still an unwieldy process for SMEs.