Oral Answers to Questions

Neale Hanvey Excerpts

Thursday 8th July 2021 Commons Chamber

[Michael Gove]

I am delighted beyond words that the hon. Lady believes that we should procure more, buy more and invest more in Britain. All that is now possible as a result of our departure from the European Union and our liberation from its procurement rules. The procurement Green Paper brought forward by my noble Friend Lord Agnew will ensure that more UK businesses—more Scottish businesses, Welsh businesses and Ulster businesses—get Government pounds to do even better for all our citizens.

[Neale Hanvey (Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath) (Alba)]

What steps his Department is taking to increase transparency in the service delivery of public bodies.

[The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Julia Lopez) [V]]

Accounting officer system statements already set out which public bodies a Department is responsible for, and their spending is set out in each Department’s annual report and accounts. Public bodies data is also published in the public bodies directory. The recent declaration on Government reform reasserts our commitment to transparency in government. The declaration includes specific commitments on public bodies, including increasing the effectiveness of departmental sponsorship of arm’s length bodies.

[Neale Hanvey]

As legislators, we have an important and indeed necessary relationship with upholding the spirit and the letter of the law. However, in my experience hon. Members seem more likely to be sacked for their attempts to uphold such a principle. What message does the continued opacity, prevarication and law-breaking of this Government’s most senior Ministers and advisers give to our children, public bodies and industry, or does the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster simply have no shame over his own unlawful conduct?

[Mr Speaker]

Order. We do need to try to keep it calm and be more temperate in our language.