Public Procurement: Prioritising British Suppliers
Debate between Baroness Twycross and Lord Spellar(4 days, 4 hours ago)
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Lord Spellar
To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of WTO rules and EU regulations on their ability to prioritise British suppliers for public procurement.
The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office, and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (Baroness Twycross) (Lab)
We are changing public procurement to work harder for Britain. In the last six months, this Government have issued new guidance on steel transparency requirements and the use of the national security exemption, as well as revising their social value model to support local communities. These reforms will support growth, create more jobs and strengthen skills while complying with our international agreements, and we will continue to do more.
Lord Spellar (Lab)
I thank the Minister for that reply, but can she reflect on the fact that we are still getting replies from Ministers that their ability to preference British manufacturers, for example of buses, is constrained by the World Trade Organization and our agreements with the EU? Yet the United States is a member of the WTO, and not only does it have “buy American” legislation on the statute book but the federal Government mandate in their grants to states and local authorities that they have to buy American. Within the EU, the founding members Italy, Germany and France blatantly preference their own suppliers. Can we change the mindset inside government to put British industry and British workers first?
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
The Government have been working to ensure that public procurement plays its full role in delivering our industrial strategy. My noble friend is right about the value of public procurement: every year, this country spends around £400 billion. We think that the new social value model will encourage contracting authorities, including central government departments, to deliver good-quality jobs, skills and opportunities in communities. We believe we can do this while still upholding our international commitments. Guidance will be published in the near future.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology: Abolition
Debate between Baroness Twycross and Lord Spellar(1 week, 5 days ago)
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Lord Spellar (Lab)
My Lords, we are concentrating a lot on the impact of AI on outside industry. To what extent is the Civil Service looking at using AI in its own internal operations? In particular, what impact will it have on the increased headcount that we have post Covid?
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
We have a huge amount of work going on across government to make sure that we use AI to its potential, from the Department of Health and Social Care looking at how it will use it in a cutting-edge AI trial to transform cancer care—albeit that that is within the health service. We are confident that AI will improve public services and boost productivity, from identifying fraud and potential fraud to making sure that we have automated policy analysts and AI tutoring tools. We are rolling out AI tools that will save time and money to get the most effective Civil Service for the public.
Live Music Industry: Support
Debate between Baroness Twycross and Lord Spellar(1 year, 4 months ago)
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Baroness Twycross (Lab)
The Government are committed to developing a truly plan-led system with a policy framework that is accessible and understandable to all. To that end, we intend to consult on a set of national policies for decision-making later this year. As I mentioned in a previous response, we want to enable new developments such as housing to co-exist with cultural infrastructure such as music venues. I understand the frustration behind the noble Baroness’s question.
Lord Spellar (Lab)
The Minister’s response is very welcome. Although the agent of change principle was introduced—I played some part in that in my role in the other place—local councils still do not seem to be getting the message. Does she accept that the money in music these days is in venues and events and therefore that people need to be able to learn their trade in small venues? Otherwise, our enormously successful music industry will not maintain its position. Nobody starts by playing at The O2; they start in local venues. Can we get that message through to local authorities?
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
I think that many local authorities recognise the significance of grass-roots music venues, not least as a way of attracting people to live in their areas. The Government are also of the view of my noble friend that supporting grass-roots music is vital. To that end, we are providing £2.5 million for Arts Council England’s Supporting Grassroots Music fund for the coming year.