I have no arguments at all with the government wanting to save money. I do think it is the government's resposibility to be as efficient with taxpayer dollars as is reasonable.

What does irritate me is the MoD's decision (per the Scotsman article) to lower the quality standards so that other companies (read cheap foreign) will be able to compete. A big part of any military's morale is the ability to maintain a high standard of appearance. While this move may save dollars, I wonder what else it will cost.

We have the same problems here in the US when the decision makers stress cost over quality.