Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the compatibility of public procurement policy and Serco sub-contracting to Concentrix to provide staff for the contact tracing scheme.

Serco are required to appoint sub-contractors in line with the terms and conditions for the primary contract awarded under the CCS framework. The CCS guidance states that if a prime contractor wishes to enter into subcontracts or replace them, they must obtain the prior consent of the contracting authority. Serco have worked with the Cabinet Office and the Department to engage a spread of regional and national providers, including small and medium sized enterprises, who have been integrated, trained and supported by Serco to meet the Department’s required delivery model.