Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Michael Dugher Excerpts
Wednesday 8th February 2012

(12 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Maude of Horsham Portrait Mr Maude
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We inherited some very rigid arrangements that militated against UK-based suppliers and at the same time provided very bad value for taxpayers. We are making reforms that make it easier for local businesses, particularly manufacturing businesses, to compete effectively, but I will happily consider the issue raised by my hon. Friend.

Michael Dugher Portrait Michael Dugher (Barnsley East) (Lab)
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The Government promised that 25% of Government contracts would be awarded to small and medium-sized enterprises, yet figures on the Minister’s departmental website show that the percentage of procurement spend with SMEs at the Cabinet Office has fallen from just under 11% to 7%, a decline replicated across Whitehall. At a time when net lending to SMEs is falling and the number of companies going under is increasing, why are things getting worse, not better, for small businesses on his watch?

Lord Maude of Horsham Portrait Mr Maude
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It is simply not the case that things are getting worse. The value of contracts being given to SMEs is rising and rising markedly from the very low base that we inherited. The other issue that we have had to deal with is the fact that the quality of information left by the previous Government was deplorable.