Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many meetings he held with the devolved Administrations on the infected blood (a) inquiry and (b) compensation framework in March 2023.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
The UK Government liaised closely with the Devolved Administrations on the interim compensation paid in October 2022. Sir Brian Langstaff has recommended that there should be a single UK-wide scheme to issue compensation whilst maintaining the existing support schemes. As I said in my December statement, the Government is committed to liaising with the Devolved Administrations on this issue, and we will continue to do so.
Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what food and drink wholesale companies were consulted on the Buying Better Food Agreement PIN.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
A cross-section of the food and drink supply chain has been engaged and consulted through CCS market engagement process. These include micro SME producers, who this Conservative Government knows are the backbone of the national food system, to Tier 1 national providers.
Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what comparative assessment he has made of the potential impact the (a) single supplier Buying Better Foods framework and (b) existing supplier landscape will have on levelling up outcomes.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
This is a national agreement, and will serve customers across the UK. Distribution points will be regionally located to service these needs, providing employment and supporting local communities in all regions.
Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether it is his policy for the Buying Better Foods framework to encourage SMES into the market; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
We are increasing opportunities for SMEs in a variety of ways - from transparently publishing contract pipelines to simplifying bidding processes. The new procurement regime this Conservative government is putting in place with our new freedoms outside the European Union will create a simpler and significantly more transparent system that will further open up public procurement to SMEs so that they can compete for and win more public contracts.
The latest procurement figures for 2020/21 show that £19.3bn was paid to SMEs to help deliver vital public services. This figure is an increase of £3.7bn on the previous year and the highest since a Conservative led Government began recording the amount spent on SMEs in 2013, something not done under the last Labour government.
SMEs in the food supply chain have been consulted as part of supplier engagement activities for the proposed Buying Better Foods framework. Feedback from these activities shaped the procurement strategy for the framework agreement. SME producers will have increased opportunities to work with the public sector.
Customers will be able to request nominated local products (subject to the local supplier/producer meeting the minimum technical standards). These products would be consolidated into a single delivery with their food order. This is in addition to the SME’s already supplying the Wholesale market. This agreement will further support SMEs as KPIs will be established within the procurement evaluation to establish and monitor SME participation with action plans for growth; giving more data and transparency within the sector.
Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will take steps to increase the proportion of public procurement spending that goes to small and medium enterprises; and what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the single buyer agreement for public sector food on those businesses.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
We are increasing opportunities for SMEs in a variety of ways - from transparently publishing contract pipelines to simplifying bidding processes. The new procurement regime this Conservative government is putting in place with our new freedoms outside the European Union will create a simpler and significantly more transparent system that will further open up public procurement to SMEs so that they can compete for and win more public contracts.
The latest procurement figures for 2020/21 show that £19.3bn was paid to SMEs to help deliver vital public services. This figure is an increase of £3.7bn on the previous year and the highest since a Conservative led Government began recording the amount spent on SMEs in 2013, something not done under the last Labour government.
SMEs in the food supply chain have been consulted as part of supplier engagement activities for the proposed Buying Better Foods framework. Feedback from these activities shaped the procurement strategy for the framework agreement. SME producers will have increased opportunities to work with the public sector.
Customers will be able to request nominated local products (subject to the local supplier/producer meeting the minimum technical standards). These products would be consolidated into a single delivery with their food order. This is in addition to the SME’s already supplying the Wholesale market. This agreement will further support SMEs as KPIs will be established within the procurement evaluation to establish and monitor SME participation with action plans for growth; giving more data and transparency within the sector.
Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent discussions he has had with the chair of the covid-19 public inquiry on the progress of that inquiry.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Cabinet Office, as sponsor department, has supported the Covid Inquiry with its practical set up. Under the Inquiries Act, the process, procedure and timing of the inquiry’s stages are matters for the independent inquiry Chair. Progress is well underway and details relating to the Inquiry’s planned and current work are available on the Covid-19 Inquiry’s website.
Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent assessment he has made of the level of compliance with the Ministerial code.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
The Prime Minister expects all Ministers to act in accordance with the Code and demonstrate integrity, professionalism and accountability. He has appointed Sir Laurie Magnus as the Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests to advise on matters relating to the Code.
Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has taken recent steps to help support small and medium-sized enterprises bidding for public contracts.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Procurement Bill, currently being considered by Parliament, significantly strengthens the grounds under which suppliers that present unacceptable risks can be prevented from participating in a procurement.
As part of this, a new ground for exclusion will allow contracting authorities to exclude suppliers which pose a threat to national security. The Bill also provides flexibility for contracts to be upgraded to refresh technology and avoid gaps in capability.
The Government has taken steps to help support small and medium-sized enterprises bidding for public contracts in a variety of ways - from transparently publishing contract pipelines to simplifying bidding processes. The new procurement regime will create a simpler and significantly more transparent system that will give opportunities for businesses of all sizes to compete for public sector work.The Bill includes a specific duty on contracting authorities to have regard to the particular barriers facing SMEs and strengthens prompt payment with 30 day payment terms applying contractually throughout the public sector supply chain.
This is one of the ways we are helping grow the economy, creating better-paid jobs and opportunity right across the country - one of the Government’s five key priorities.
Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps the Government is taking to increase cyber resilience in public procurement.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Procurement Bill, currently being considered by Parliament, significantly strengthens the grounds under which suppliers that present unacceptable risks can be prevented from participating in a procurement.
As part of this, a new ground for exclusion will allow contracting authorities to exclude suppliers which pose a threat to national security. The Bill also provides flexibility for contracts to be upgraded to refresh technology and avoid gaps in capability.
The Government has taken steps to help support small and medium-sized enterprises bidding for public contracts in a variety of ways - from transparently publishing contract pipelines to simplifying bidding processes. The new procurement regime will create a simpler and significantly more transparent system that will give opportunities for businesses of all sizes to compete for public sector work.The Bill includes a specific duty on contracting authorities to have regard to the particular barriers facing SMEs and strengthens prompt payment with 30 day payment terms applying contractually throughout the public sector supply chain.
This is one of the ways we are helping grow the economy, creating better-paid jobs and opportunity right across the country - one of the Government’s five key priorities.
Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps the Government is taking to strengthen national security through public procurement.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Procurement Bill, currently being considered by Parliament, significantly strengthens the grounds under which suppliers that present unacceptable risks can be prevented from participating in a procurement.
As part of this, a new ground for exclusion will allow contracting authorities to exclude suppliers which pose a threat to national security. The Bill also provides flexibility for contracts to be upgraded to refresh technology and avoid gaps in capability.
The Government has taken steps to help support small and medium-sized enterprises bidding for public contracts in a variety of ways - from transparently publishing contract pipelines to simplifying bidding processes. The new procurement regime will create a simpler and significantly more transparent system that will give opportunities for businesses of all sizes to compete for public sector work.The Bill includes a specific duty on contracting authorities to have regard to the particular barriers facing SMEs and strengthens prompt payment with 30 day payment terms applying contractually throughout the public sector supply chain.
This is one of the ways we are helping grow the economy, creating better-paid jobs and opportunity right across the country - one of the Government’s five key priorities.