Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.
If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.
If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).
These initiatives were driven by Diana Johnson, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.
MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.
A Bill to make provision about mandatory local consultation in relation to the installation of telecommunications infrastructure in residential areas; and for connected purposes.
A Bill to make provision about mandatory local consultation in relation to the installation of telecommunications infrastructure in residential areas; and for connected purposes.
A Bill to criminalise paying for sex; to decriminalise selling sex; to create offences relating to enabling or profiting from another person's sexual exploitation; to make associated provision about sexual exploitation online; to make provision for support services for victims of sexual exploitation; and for connected purposes.
The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A Bill to amend the law relating to abortion in England and Wales, and Northern Ireland; to remove criminal liability in respect of abortion performed with the consent of the pregnant woman up to the twenty-fourth week of pregnancy; to repeal sections 59 and 60 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861; to create offences of termination of a pregnancy after its twenty-fourth week and non-consensual termination of a pregnancy; to amend the law relating to conscientious objection to participation in abortion treatment; and for connected purposes.
A Bill to regulate the termination of pregnancies by medical practitioners and to repeal certain criminal offences relating to such terminations; and for connected purposes.
A Bill to require the Secretary of State to make provision to include education about sex and relationships, resilience against bullying and sexual abuse and ending violence against women and girls in the national curriculum; and for connected purposes.
The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A Bill to make provision for the statutory regulation of sex establishments; to amend the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982; to require local authorities to adhere to the existing voluntary licensing framework for sex establishments; and for connected purposes.
The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A Bill to enable women to be consecrated as bishops in the Church of England; and for connected purposes.
The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A Bill to require the Secretary of State to make provision to include relationship, drug and alcohol education in the national curriculum; and for connected purposes
Police (declaration) Bill 2023-24
Sponsor - Tonia Antoniazzi (Lab)
Spiking Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Richard Graham (Con)
Same Sex Marriage (Church of England) Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Ben Bradshaw (Lab)
Lithium-ion Battery Storage (Fire Safety and Environmental Permits) Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Maria Miller (Con)
Fertility Treatment (Transparency) Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Alex Davies-Jones (Lab)
Employment Equality (Insurance etc) Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Natalie Elphicke (Con)
Community Wealth Fund Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Paul Howell (Con)
Tibet (Reciprocal Access) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Tim Loughton (Con)
Local Electricity Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Peter Aldous (Con)
Company Transparency (Carbon in Supply Chains) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Karen Bradley (Con)
Demonstrations (Abortion Clinics) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Rupa Huq (Lab)
Reservoirs (Flood Risk) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Holly Lynch (Lab)
Health Impacts (Public Sector Duty) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Luciana Berger (LD)
Public Sector Supply Chains (Project Bank Accounts) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Debbie Abrahams (Lab)
Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018
Sponsor - Karen Buck (Lab)
Local Health Scrutiny Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Gareth Snell (LAB)
Representation of the People (Young People's Enfranchisement and Education) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Jim McMahon (LAB)
Fetal Dopplers (Regulation) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Antoinette Sandbach (LD)
Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018
Sponsor - Chris Bryant (Lab)
Unlawful Killing (Recovery of Remains) Bill 2016-17
Sponsor - Conor McGinn (Ind)
Financial Regulation of Funeral Services Bill 2016-17
Sponsor - Neil Gray (SNP)
House of Lords Reform (Exclusion of Hereditary Peers) Bill 2015-16
Sponsor - David Hanson (Lab)
This is an issue which the government takes very seriously. The public have a right to feel safe on the streets and they expect the government, law enforcement, and the private sector to ensure this.
Action which the Government is already taking on spiking includes:
As set out in my response to Question 16659, members of the expert group will receive remuneration for their work. However, the Government will not be releasing the details of how much individual members of the expert group are being paid.
I refer the Hon. Member to my response to UIN 16454 on 6th March 2024.
I refer the Hon. Member to my response to UIN 16454 on 6th March 2024.
I can confirm that members of the expert group will receive remuneration for their work. On 7 February 2024, the Government published details of the legal experts contract award on Contracts Finder.
I refer the Hon. Member to my response to UIN 16454 on 6th March 2024.
Professor Sir Jonathan Montgomery has been appointed as the chair of the expert group to advise on the Government’s response to the Infected Blood Inquiry’s recommendations on compensation. The names of the other members of the expert group will not be disclosed to safeguard the privacy and ability of experts to continue their frontline clinical roles whilst advising on Government policy.
The Statistical Expert Group, established by the Infected Blood Inquiry, has provided valuable insight into the numbers of infections from blood and blood products in the UK between 1970 and 1991 and subsequent survival rates. However, this information is not available by Parliamentary constituency. There is also considerable uncertainty over the number of people, especially those affected, who might be eligible under Sir Brian Langstaff’s recommendations. Therefore I am not able to provide a substantive response to the right Honourable Lady’s question on her constituency. On 22 January, an expert group formally began work to provide technical advice to the Cabinet Office. This work will inform the Government’s response to the Inquiry’s final report.
This information is not available by Parliamentary constituency. Since October 2022, the Government has paid over £400 million in interim compensation payments to those infected or bereaved partners registered with the UK Infected Blood Support Schemes, totalling over 4000 individuals.
The Inquiry’s second interim report covers a set of extremely challenging issues, and it is right that we fully consider the needs of the community and the far-reaching impact that this scandal has had on their lives. The Inquiry’s final report is due on 20 May 2024 and I will make a further statement to the House regarding the Government’s next steps within 25 sitting days of the final report being published.
In October 2022, the Government made interim payments to infected people and bereaved partners registered with existing support schemes.We will continue to engage with the infected and affected community as appropriate, including ensuring that the APPG and the wider community is represented. At this time we are not engaging with groups on an individual basis regarding the Government’s response to the Infected Blood Inquiry.
I thank the Honourable Lady for her point and note that I wrote to her on the 2nd February 2024, following the point of order she raised on 1st February. During Cabinet Office Oral Questions on 18 January 2024, Jessica Morden MP raised a question about the urgency of compensation for the victims of the infected blood scandal. In response, I sought to assure her that I was doing everything I could to deliver as quickly as possible, and that psychological support for victims was now in place. As I requested, my statement regarding psychological support has been corrected in Hansard and makes clear that a bespoke psychological support service for infected blood victims, commissioned by NHS England, is currently being developed, and is planned to go live in early Summer 2024. Regarding experts, when I spoke on 18 January, the Government was onboarding experts to advise on the Government’s response to the Infected Blood Inquiry’s recommendations on compensation. On 22 January, the chair of the expert group and clinical experts formally took up their appointments and the advising legal firm contract was awarded. The Government will update on the appointment of social care experts in due course.
Since 13 November 2023 I have received 58 letters and emails about the Infected Blood scandal including from people infected and affected. I have been deeply affected by the suffering and trauma of each individual as a result of infected blood and would like to reassure the community that the Government is committed to acting swiftly following the publication of the final report. I plan to engage with the infected blood community as soon as I have a substantive update to share on the Government response. I am mindful of the anxiety that those infected and affected must be experiencing at this time and would not wish to exacerbate this.
The Government is in the process of appointing clinical, legal and social care experts to advise the Cabinet Office on detailed technical considerations of the Government’s response to the Infected Blood Inquiry and will update Parliament in due course. The advice of experts will ensure the Government has the relevant expertise to make informed choices and to respond to the Inquiry’s recommendations on compensation following the publication of the final report on 20 May 2024.
The Government has committed to responding to the recommendations in the second interim report, including the recommendation to establish an arms-length body, following the publication of the Inquiry’s final report.
It is a measure of the scale of the infected blood scandal that the statutory Inquiry has over 2,000 infected and affected core participants. My predecessors as Ministers responsible for the Infected Blood Inquiry held formal roundtable meetings with groups of infected and affected people and representatives of campaign groups in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2023, at which my predecessors were able to hear directly from infected and affected people. Further meetings took place with individuals and their Members of Parliament once each in 2021 and 2022.
In addition to this, my predecessors have had informal meetings with groups of individuals while attending hearings of the Inquiry and in the margins of a Westminster Hall debate. My officials often correspond with and speak to individuals and campaigners in the course of their work.
Work is currently underway across Government to give thorough consideration to each of the recommendations that Sir Brian made in his second interim report. The Government is committed to acting swiftly in response to the final report of the Infected Blood Inquiry, and is awaiting its publication by the Inquiry.
I thank the Rt Hon Lady for her questions. I appreciate the Rt Hon Lady has also raised related issues in business questions and in a point of order.
I initially made a statement on the infected blood scandal to the House on 15 December in which on behalf of the Government I accepted that there is a moral case for compensation to be paid.
I followed this up by meeting victims of the scandal on 7 March. I am most grateful to the APPG, with the Rt Hon Lady and the Father of the House in the Chair, for facilitating this meeting.
At a very early date after the publication of Sir Brian Langstaff’s Second Interim Report, I came to the House to make a further statement on 19 April to give Rt Hon and Hon Members the opportunity to react to the report and ask questions of the Government.
I wrote to the Rt Hon Lady following publication of the report setting out that I looked forward to further engagement.
I made clear in my statement that I was open to further meetings with the victims of this scandal while we progress the work required to respond to Sir Brian.
I would like to assure the Rt Hon Lady, as I made clear in the statement, of my determination to progress this issue and respond as swiftly as possible. Work continues on the formulation of policy to achieve this objective, including ministerial level meetings chaired by me as sponsor minister for the Inquiry. As is usual, I do not intend to publish details of internal government meetings conducted to inform policy decisions.
On the specific issue of the Devolved Administrations and as I set out in my answer to PQ181290, PQ181291, PQ181293 and PQ181294, we worked closely with the Devolved Administrations to achieve the successful payment of interim compensation to infected victims. Liaison has continued since then at official level.
I anticipated meeting Ministers in the Devolved Administrations following the publication of the Second Interim Report, and I look forward to doing so and hearing their input towards our consideration of the Report. However, I would draw the Rt Hon Lady’s attention to the fact that both Sir Robert Francis and Sir Brian Langstaff recommend a compensation scheme established and funded by the Government of the United Kingdom.
It is also the case, as I said in my statement of 19 April, that Sir Brian differs significantly from Sir Robert in recommending a single UK scheme whereas Sir Robert recommended the utilisation of the existing payment structures operated, inter alia, by the Devolved Administrations. The Rt Hon Lady will appreciate that on this as in many areas of Sir Brian’s Second Interim Report there are significant policy issues that need to be considered by the UK Government as we formulate our response, on which we are working at pace.
I thank the Rt Hon Lady for her questions. I appreciate the Rt Hon Lady has also raised related issues in business questions and in a point of order.
I initially made a statement on the infected blood scandal to the House on 15 December in which on behalf of the Government I accepted that there is a moral case for compensation to be paid.
I followed this up by meeting victims of the scandal on 7 March. I am most grateful to the APPG, with the Rt Hon Lady and the Father of the House in the Chair, for facilitating this meeting.
At a very early date after the publication of Sir Brian Langstaff’s Second Interim Report, I came to the House to make a further statement on 19 April to give Rt Hon and Hon Members the opportunity to react to the report and ask questions of the Government.
I wrote to the Rt Hon Lady following publication of the report setting out that I looked forward to further engagement.
I made clear in my statement that I was open to further meetings with the victims of this scandal while we progress the work required to respond to Sir Brian.
I would like to assure the Rt Hon Lady, as I made clear in the statement, of my determination to progress this issue and respond as swiftly as possible. Work continues on the formulation of policy to achieve this objective, including ministerial level meetings chaired by me as sponsor minister for the Inquiry. As is usual, I do not intend to publish details of internal government meetings conducted to inform policy decisions.
On the specific issue of the Devolved Administrations and as I set out in my answer to PQ181290, PQ181291, PQ181293 and PQ181294, we worked closely with the Devolved Administrations to achieve the successful payment of interim compensation to infected victims. Liaison has continued since then at official level.
I anticipated meeting Ministers in the Devolved Administrations following the publication of the Second Interim Report, and I look forward to doing so and hearing their input towards our consideration of the Report. However, I would draw the Rt Hon Lady’s attention to the fact that both Sir Robert Francis and Sir Brian Langstaff recommend a compensation scheme established and funded by the Government of the United Kingdom.
It is also the case, as I said in my statement of 19 April, that Sir Brian differs significantly from Sir Robert in recommending a single UK scheme whereas Sir Robert recommended the utilisation of the existing payment structures operated, inter alia, by the Devolved Administrations. The Rt Hon Lady will appreciate that on this as in many areas of Sir Brian’s Second Interim Report there are significant policy issues that need to be considered by the UK Government as we formulate our response, on which we are working at pace.
I thank the Rt Hon Lady for her questions. I appreciate the Rt Hon Lady has also raised related issues in business questions and in a point of order.
I initially made a statement on the infected blood scandal to the House on 15 December in which on behalf of the Government I accepted that there is a moral case for compensation to be paid.
I followed this up by meeting victims of the scandal on 7 March. I am most grateful to the APPG, with the Rt Hon Lady and the Father of the House in the Chair, for facilitating this meeting.
At a very early date after the publication of Sir Brian Langstaff’s Second Interim Report, I came to the House to make a further statement on 19 April to give Rt Hon and Hon Members the opportunity to react to the report and ask questions of the Government.
I wrote to the Rt Hon Lady following publication of the report setting out that I looked forward to further engagement.
I made clear in my statement that I was open to further meetings with the victims of this scandal while we progress the work required to respond to Sir Brian.
I would like to assure the Rt Hon Lady, as I made clear in the statement, of my determination to progress this issue and respond as swiftly as possible. Work continues on the formulation of policy to achieve this objective, including ministerial level meetings chaired by me as sponsor minister for the Inquiry. As is usual, I do not intend to publish details of internal government meetings conducted to inform policy decisions.
On the specific issue of the Devolved Administrations and as I set out in my answer to PQ181290, PQ181291, PQ181293 and PQ181294, we worked closely with the Devolved Administrations to achieve the successful payment of interim compensation to infected victims. Liaison has continued since then at official level.
I anticipated meeting Ministers in the Devolved Administrations following the publication of the Second Interim Report, and I look forward to doing so and hearing their input towards our consideration of the Report. However, I would draw the Rt Hon Lady’s attention to the fact that both Sir Robert Francis and Sir Brian Langstaff recommend a compensation scheme established and funded by the Government of the United Kingdom.
It is also the case, as I said in my statement of 19 April, that Sir Brian differs significantly from Sir Robert in recommending a single UK scheme whereas Sir Robert recommended the utilisation of the existing payment structures operated, inter alia, by the Devolved Administrations. The Rt Hon Lady will appreciate that on this as in many areas of Sir Brian’s Second Interim Report there are significant policy issues that need to be considered by the UK Government as we formulate our response, on which we are working at pace.
Ministers regularly meet with departmental officials and external stakeholders. As is precedent, details of Ministerial meetings with external organisations and individuals are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.
The Cabinet Office chairs a range of cross governmental meetings at official and ministerial level from departments across Whitehall to coordinate the Government’s response on the Infected Blood Inquiry. The issue of compensation is complex, and we are working at pace across Government to ensure that we are able to respond quickly to Sir Brian Langstaff’s final report.
I refer the honourable Member to the statement made on Wednesday April 19 2023, in response to the publication of the Infected Blood Inquiry’s Second Interim Report.
The Cabinet Office chairs a range of cross governmental meetings at official and ministerial level from departments across Whitehall to coordinate the Government’s response on the Infected Blood Inquiry. The issue of compensation is complex, and we are working at pace across Government to ensure that we are able to respond quickly to Sir Brian Langstaff’s final report.
I refer the honourable Member to the statement made on Wednesday April 19 2023, in response to the publication of the Infected Blood Inquiry’s Second Interim Report.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Meetings continue to be held at Ministerial and Official level to progress the Government’s response to Sir Brian Langsatff’s work. As set out in the statement of Wednesday 19th April, this is a priority for the Government.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Through its Veterans’ Welfare Service, Veterans UK provides one-to-one welfare support and advice to veterans or anyone supporting a veteran, their families and dependants. We are also working with the charitable sector to continue to signpost dedicated support available to veterans.
We are also providing significant support to help people through these tough times by holding down energy bills and delivering up to £1,350 in direct cash payments to millions of vulnerable households.
The Government is committed to supporting all households with the current cost of living, through the Help for Households initiative. This includes serving personnel and veterans. Veterans are able to access all the support that the rest of the UK is eligible for, including the Energy Price Guarantee, Cost of Living Payment and the Disability Cost of Living Payment.
Tackling inflation is this government’s number one priority. We have a plan that will help to more than halve inflation this year and lay the foundations for long-term growth to improve living standards for everyone, including veterans.
As the Government outlined in the National Cyber Strategy 2022, significant progress has been made in the last decade in improving the UK’s cyber resilience but further work remains.
The Strategy sets out the Government’s ambitions to raise levels of resilience across all sectors by 2025, with a particular focus on our Critical National Infrastructure and making government an exemplar. We are also strengthening protections to online services and connected consumer devices to reduce the cyber security burden on UK citizens.
The Government continually assesses cyber risk and implementation of the National Cyber Strategy and we will publish annual reports on our progress.
Consultants can bring highly valuable expertise to support Government in delivering outstanding public projects. It is essential that Government continues to be able to access the right skills at the right time, but also that we do so in the right way and deliver the desired outcomes. Government is committed to working together to get the most value from our spend and to achieve the highest quality results.
The Consultancy Playbook, published in May 2021 alongside the Sourcing Playbook, provides additional guidance when buying consultancy services. This supports Government’s agenda to commission and engage with consultants more effectively, achieving better outcomes, better value for money, and improved civil service capability through the transferral of knowledge and skills.
Consultancy spend by department is published on GOV.UK
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A reply has been sent.
I can confirm infected individuals and bereaved partners who are registered with any of the four UK infected blood support schemes received their payments by 28 October.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
A response to the Rt hon. Member's Parliamentary Questions of 4 July is attached.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
A response to the Rt hon. Member's Parliamentary Questions of 4 July is attached.
It is my intention to publish Sir Robert Francis’ study alongside the Government’s response. Before I am able to do so, you will understand that work must be undertaken within Government to formalise our response. That work is already underway.
I recognise how important it is for the Inquiry and its core participants to have sufficient time to consider the study before Sir Robert gives evidence to the Inquiry. It is my intention to publish the study alongside the Government’s response as soon as possible.
The study will report to the Paymaster General no later than 14 March 2022. The Government will give full consideration to Sir Robert's study - which is separate from the independent public inquiry. The Government's response and Sir Robert's study will be published.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have, therefore, asked the Authority to respond.