Oral Answers to Questions

Desmond Swayne Excerpts

Thursday 6th March 2025 Commons Chamber

[Georgia Gould]

I very much welcome these questions� I could happily speak about procurement all day, because it is absolutely critical for delivering the Government�s missions. The Procurement Act 2023 removes some of these challenges, but we need to do more. That is why we are setting ambitious and stretching targets for direct spend on SMEs and have asked officials to review our framework contracts, in particular, to ensure that they are more accessible to SMEs. The challenges raised by businesses in my hon. Friend�s constituency are the same as those I have heard described by SMEs across the country�our procurement is too complex and too slow, and it needs to change. We need to get that �400 billion into real jobs and SMEs in our communities.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

I congratulate the Government Whips� Office�[Laughter.] What discussions have been had with the Crown Commercial Service regarding Romeo Mike 6277 network�RM6277?

--- Later in debate ---

[Pat McFadden]

I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for the work that he did on public sector productivity. It was probably essential given that in the eight years between 2016 and 2024 the previous Government employed an extra 131,000 civil servants, so it is quite right that we look at the productivity for the extra employment sanctioned by the last Government.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

Does the Minister have an appetite for a policy of like-for-like retaliation when a cyber-attack by a hostile state is confirmed?

[Pat McFadden]

I have both appetite and full faith in our excellent intelligence and security services, who protect us every day.