Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi and Oliver Dowden

Wednesday 5th June 2019 Commons Chamber

[Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Slough) (Lab)]

9. What progress the Government have made towards their target of spending 33% of central Government procurement with small and medium-sized enterprises by 2022.

[The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Oliver Dowden)]

We are doing more than ever to encourage SMEs in public procurement. Recently published figures show an increase in spend from the previous year. Examples of measures that we have taken include streamlining procurement processes and improving transparency and, from September, we will be able to exclude suppliers that fail to pay subcontractors on time.

[Mr Dhesi]

Research from the Federation of Small Businesses shows that 25% of businesses that are in supply chains for public infrastructure projects experience late payment more than half the time. Along with the Government lagging dismally behind their target of spending 33% of central Government procurement with SMEs by 2022, is this not yet more evidence that they simply do not represent the interests of small businesses?

[Oliver Dowden]

I would have thought that the hon. Gentleman would welcome figures that show we are spending more with small businesses than ever before. On his point about prompt payment, we set a very challenging target of 90% of undisputed invoices from SMEs being paid within five days and we are meeting that for most Departments.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi and Oliver Dowden

Wednesday 16th May 2018 Commons Chamber

[The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Oliver Dowden)]

My hon. Friend raises a very important point. We are determined that the public sector uses technology to improve services. Indeed, just last week I announced the first GovTech challenges to help tech firms to create innovative, cutting-edge solutions to public service challenges. The first seeks to use artificial intelligence solutions to identify recruitment images that are created by Daesh and spread online.

[Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Slough) (Lab)]

We are now in an unsustainable and inconsistent position whereby 16 and 17-year-olds in Scotland and Wales can be trusted to vote in local government elections, yet their counterparts in England and Northern Ireland are denied that right. Does the Minister agree that if we are to maintain the integrity of our electoral process, we must have equal voting rights across the UK?