The benefits of the G-Cloud are now coming to light. With 23,605 visitors within 10 days of its launch last month, the G-Cloud is rolling out across the public sector and is expected to improve services and reduce costs.

Francis Maude, Minister for the Cabinet Office, said: "Effective and efficient ICT is critical to delivering world-class public services that offer value for taxpayers' money. The actions we are taking will reduce waste, avoid costly project failures of the past and see smart technology systems being used to improve the way that services are delivered."

In an austere climate where services such as the NHS need to find billions of pounds in cuts, the service is expected to save around £1bn in ICT costs alone by 2014.