Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to make it easier for small businesses to access the tendering process for government contracts.

To make it easier for small businesses to access the tendering process for government contracts, we have removed unnecessary bureaucracy such as pre-qualification questionnaires from low value central Government contracts. All central Government procurements over £10k must now be advertised on Contracts Finder, which has introduced unprecedented transparency to the range of opportunities available.

In addition, the Government’s appointment of Crown Representatives for SMEs and voluntary bodies has ensured that the voice of both SMES and voluntary sector organisations is heard inside Whitehall.

Our ‘Mystery Shopper’ scheme allows suppliers to report bad procurement practice, and we have published a series of “top tips” videos to help SMEs and voluntary organisations pitch for and win government contracts.

Building on these reforms, we are now taking forward Lord Young’s recommendations to create an SME-friendly ‘single market’ for public procurement including through the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill.