Oral Answers to Questions

Priti Patel Excerpts

Wednesday 16th May 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mark Pawsey (Rugby) (Con)]

1. What steps his Department is taking to support the use of small businesses in Government procurement.

[Priti Patel (Witham) (Con)]

3. What steps his Department is taking to enable a wider range of businesses to bid for and secure public sector contracts.

[Craig Mackinlay (South Thanet) (Con)]

11. What steps his Department is taking to support the use of small businesses in Government procurement.

--- Later in debate ---

[Priti Patel]

The UK’s fantastic small and medium-sized enterprises drive innovation and help to deliver our public services. What barriers has the Minister identified that he will tackle to ensure that we can see more small businesses from around the country tender for Government contracts?

[Oliver Dowden]

I thank my right hon. Friend for her question. She is absolutely right: I am committed to breaking down barriers for SMEs supplying the public sector. That is why, over Easter, I announced that we required significant contractors to advertise their contracting opportunities for SMEs on Contracts Finder. In addition, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has appointed an SME champion in each Department, and I have personally written to strategic suppliers to remind them of their obligation to pay subcontractors on time.