Asked by: Grant Shapps (Conservative - Welwyn Hatfield)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the effect on value for the taxpayer of a small number of large companies dominating the market for tendered government contracts.
Answered by Oliver Dowden - Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
The Government awards contracts through fair and open competition, in line with principles of equal treatment, transparency and non-discrimination. To encourage competition and more access by SMEs to government contracts, we now require public buyers to divide contracts into more accessible lots (or explain why not) so that tender requirements can be matched to smaller businesses’ specialisms.
Asked by: Grant Shapps (Conservative - Welwyn Hatfield)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps the Government is taking to support SME to compete for tendered Government contracts.
Answered by Oliver Dowden - Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and this Government is committed to supporting them in securing public sector contracts.
To that end, we have already streamlined our procurement processes to assist small businesses, and we continue to focus on breaking down the barriers that might deter SMEs.
We are committed to working with SMEs and our aspiration remains to spend 33% with them by the end of 2022.
Asked by: Grant Shapps (Conservative - Welwyn Hatfield)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps the Government is taking to remove disproportionate financial turnover requirements in tendered Government contracts for SMEs.
Answered by Oliver Dowden - Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, Contracting Authorities are only allowed to require suppliers to have a turn over that is twice the value of the contract they are applying for.
If a supplier is asked for a disproportionate turnover requirements they can report this to our Mystery Shopper Service, who will investigate on their behalf.