Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Crown Commercial Service considered the (a) cost and (b) accessibility of the RM6277 framework to small independent recruitment agencies during the design and tendering process.

Crown Commercial Service (CCS) considered bidding costs and accessibility for small independent agencies in the design and tendering of RM6277: Non‑Clinical Staffing, including lotting, proportionate evaluation and market engagement.

Small-medium enterprises, including small independent recruitment agencies, secured over 70% of places across lots 1 to 6 and 46% in lot 7. This is in line with the government’s strategy to back small and medium-sized businesses.