Written Statements
Procurement Act 2023: Supplier Investigations
(1 day, 15 hours ago)
Written StatementsRead Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Georgia Gould)
We will never forget the 72 lives lost as a result of the Grenfell tragedy, and we are grateful to Sir Martin Moore-Bick and the Grenfell inquiry team for publishing the hugely important phase 2 report into the tragedy.
In line with the Prime Minister’s statement in response to the publication of that report, we have reviewed the report to identify where the inquiry found failings by specific named organisations in relation to the Grenfell fire on 14 June 2017. I can announce today our intention to launch investigations into seven organisations using new debarment powers in the Procurement Act 2023. These investigations will establish whether the organisations have engaged in professional misconduct for the purposes of that Act.
The organisations we intend to investigate immediately are: Arconic Architectural Products SAS; Saint-Gobain Construction Products UK Ltd, in relation to the actions of Celotex Limited—which it owned at the relevant time—Exova (UK) Ltd; Harley Facades Ltd; Kingspan Insulation Ltd; Rydon Maintenance Ltd; and Studio E Architects Ltd.
These organisations will be notified when an investigation is launched under the new Act. Investigations into other organisations may be launched in due course and affected organisations will be notified accordingly.
The review process so far has been conducted under current laws that govern public procurement in the UK. However, those laws were on 24 February 2025 replaced, through a major reform of procurement legislation, with the new Procurement Act 2023.
We will make early use of the new powers in this Act that enable us to take stronger and broader action in relation to supplier misconduct, which we will, where appropriate, utilise to effectively hold organisations to account. The new Act allows us to investigate suppliers and, if certain grounds are met, to add their names to a published and centrally managed debarment list, which must be taken into account by contracting authorities in awarding new contracts and undertaking new procurements.
We want to act swiftly and decisively, and we are committed, where appropriate, to pursuing meaningful action in respect of failings related to the Grenfell tragedy. Today’s announcement marks an important step towards that.
[HCWS474]
UK-Andorra Double Taxation Convention
(1 day, 15 hours ago)
Written StatementsRead Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (James Murray)
A double taxation convention with Andorra was signed in London on 20 February 2025. The text of the convention is available on HM Revenue and Customs’ pages of the www.gov.uk website and will be deposited in the Libraries of both Houses. The text of the convention will be scheduled to a draft Order in Council and laid before the House of Commons in due course.
[HCWS473]
Management of Italian Nuclear Materials in the UK
(1 day, 15 hours ago)
Written StatementsRead Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Michael Shanks)
My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath) made the following statement today:
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has agreed to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority:
Taking ownership of approximately 1.58 tonnes of separated civil plutonium which was previously owned by an Italian counterpart;
Taking ownership of approximately 700 tonnes of reprocessed uranium which was previously owned by an Italian counterpart.
These transactions, which have been agreed by the Euratom Supply Agency, will not result in any new plutonium or reprocessed uranium being brought into the UK, and will not therefore increase the overall amount of plutonium or reprocessed uranium in the UK.
The Department has agreed to these transactions on the grounds that they offer a cost-effective and beneficial arrangement, facilitating the conclusion of historical European nuclear material contracts. The revenue from the transactions is sufficient to cover the cost of the management of the plutonium and reprocessed uranium involved.
The UK has committed to publish annual figures for national holdings of civil plutonium and uranium at the end of each calendar year to improve transparency and public confidence. The most recently published data can be found at the following link: https://www.onr.org.uk/publications/regulatory-reports/safeguards/annual-civil-plutonium-figures/2023-annual-figures-for-holdings-of-civil-unirradiated-plutonium/ This data will be updated in due course to reflect the changes in ownership described above.
In January 2025, the Department also announced the decision to immobilise the UK-owned civil separated plutonium inventory at Sellafield.
[HCWS472]
Digital Inclusion Action Plan: First Steps
(1 day, 15 hours ago)
Written StatementsRead Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
The Minister for Data Protection and Telecoms (Chris Bryant)
Today, the Government have laid before Parliament the “Digital Inclusion Action Plan—First Steps”, which includes a call for evidence on the Government’s proposed focus areas.
It is estimated that 1.6 million people in the UK live largely offline, and we know that they are likely to experience lower pay, have fewer job opportunities, have worse health outcomes, and might pay more for goods and services. We know that there are many benefits to being online, whether it is connecting with family and friends, being able to manage your finances, or being able to apply for a new job that is advertised online.
We want to ensure that everyone can experience these benefits, no matter where you are in the country, and no matter your age, background, or current circumstances, because we believe that everyone should benefit from digital technology. The action plan sets out the first five actions and the leadership actions that Government will take to ensure we have a digitally inclusive society.
The Government have consulted with and listened to stakeholders, who told us locally delivered support has the biggest impact, so in the spring we will be launching a new digital inclusion innovation fund to support innovative local initiatives—because we know digital inclusion initiatives work best when they are embedded in the communities people live and work in. Where local initiatives work well, we will look to roll them out in other parts of the country.
Everyone needs to have access to the necessary training and support to develop the essential digital skills to live, work, and participate fully in the modern world. That is why we have committed to improving support for the framework that helps people and businesses get the skills they need to get online safely and with confidence. We will also measure what works on digital inclusion, identify where the need is greatest, and establish the economic and social value of upskilling adults with digital skills.
Having access to a suitable device to be able to complete key tasks such as applying for a job, completing homework, or managing your finances online is vital to participating in our increasingly digital society. The 37% of households who are offline say that lack of equipment is a barrier. To help address this, we are piloting a proof-of-concept multi-Department device donation scheme. We are working with the Digital Poverty Alliance to provide refurbished Government laptops to those who need them.
We want to break down barriers to digital services. This is why we have committed to making Government digital services easier to use. We will have a renewed focus on digital inclusion, for example by improving the whole experience for users and increasing the number of services that use www.gov.uk One Login.
The action plan is supported by 10 pledges from industry, working in parallel with and in support of this action plan. These pledges demonstrate the significance of partnership to promote and empower digital inclusion, and the shared responsibility to tackle this important issue.
The call for evidence seeks views on the focus areas identified for further work. These are opening up opportunities through skills, tackling data and device poverty, breaking down barriers to digital services, and building confidence and supporting local delivery. The call for evidence will close on 9 April 2025. The “Digital Inclusion Action Plan—First Steps” document will be made available on www.gov.uk.
[HCWS471]