Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent discussions he has Cabinet colleagues on increasing levels of insourcing.

This Labour Government is committed to delivering the biggest wave of insourcing of public services in a generation, ending outsourcing by default.

On 17 June, the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, the Chancellor and I introduced a new Public Interest Test. From April 2027, departments will assess whether a service can be delivered more effectively in-house before any outsourcing decision is made. This will apply to service contracts of £1 million and above. Departments will also publish insourcing strategies setting out their medium term plans to deliver services in-house.

Additionally, subject to completing a Public Interest Test (PIT), the Cabinet Office will look to bring its building management services, including cleaning and security staff, back in-house as soon as possible, with this process beginning when current contracts end in 2028. Applying the PIT to these services will cover contracts across 83 buildings, including 10 Downing Street and 70 Whitehall (the London HQ of the Cabinet Office).