Asked by: Scott Mann (Conservative - North Cornwall)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what progress his Department has made on increasing involvement of small and medium sizes businesses in government procurement.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
Further to my answer to Oral Questions 1, 7, 13 and 17 on the 27th February 2020 (Official Report, Vol. 672, Col. 448-449), we have already introduced measures aimed at tackling barriers faced by SMEs, including ensuring that opportunities are advertised and that departments consider using contract lots to encourage SMEs to bid for government contracts.
More small suppliers than ever are looking to bid for Government business and last financial year, we spent almost £2bn more with SMEs - a total of £14.2bn, which is the highest spend ever.
Asked by: Scott Mann (Conservative - North Cornwall)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to enable small firms to bid for Government contracts.
Answered by Oliver Dowden - 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.
In April I announced a number of measures to help achieve this, including proposals on excluding suppliers who do not pay their subcontractors on time. 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: Scott Mann (Conservative - North Cornwall)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate his Department has made of the number of people who have Rhabdomyosarcoma.
Answered by Chloe Smith
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
Asked by: Scott Mann (Conservative - North Cornwall)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate his Department has made of the number of people who are aged over 18 and have cancer in (a) North Cornwall constituency and (b) Cornwall.
Answered by Chloe Smith
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
Asked by: Scott Mann (Conservative - North Cornwall)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will include Cornish as an ethnicity in the 2021 census.
Answered by Chloe Smith
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.