Oral Answers to Questions Debate

Full Debate: Read Full Debate
Department: Cabinet Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Kelvin Hopkins Excerpts
Wednesday 6th February 2013

(11 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Lord Maude of Horsham Portrait Mr Maude
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

I very much agree with my right hon. Friend. Our primary concern in public procurement is value for the taxpayer, but it is entirely legitimate to be concerned about ensuring that companies that are—rightly—profiting from Government contracts should be paying the proper amount of tax.

Kelvin Hopkins Portrait Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North) (Lab)
- Hansard - -

Is not the answer simply to put out a message to all companies that if they do not pay their taxes they will not get the contract?

Lord Maude of Horsham Portrait Mr Maude
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

I do not recall this ever being addressed by the previous Government. We have inherited very large numbers of extremely costly contracts where nobody has taken any interest in this subject at all.