6. As part of the business case for the project, PITO estimated that Airwave would cost some 2% of annual police budgets compared with a cost of slightly under 1% for existing systems. A review in 1999 concluded that Airwave would cost some £300 million more than a series of less ambitious, locally procured systems. The Home Office told us that it had opted for a national procurement for a number of reasons. First and foremost, a single system for the whole country would secure better co-ordination between police forces. Secondly, a national system would allow police officers from one area to assist another force and still use their own equipment. Thirdly, the system would concentrate expertise, especially in new technology as complicated as Airwave, and allow economies of scale to be achieved in the procurement and management of the system.4
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4 C&AG's Report, paras 1.19, 2.40; Qq 2, 177, 191