Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government why the implementation of the Procurement Act 2023 has been delayed to 2025; and what changes have been made to the timetable for the National Procurement Policy Statement in the light of changes to government policy on procurement since the general election.

The Government wants to ensure that public procurement supports delivery of its missions. The National Procurement Policy Statement (NPPS) which sets out the Government’s strategic policy priorities for public procurement is an essential element of the Procurement Act, and it is crucial that the new regime commences with a statutory NPPS aligned to the new Government’s priorities.

Work will now begin on a new NPPS, helping to create a mission-led procurement regime which builds on the transformative powers within the Act, and which meets the challenge of applying the full potential of public procurement to deliver value for money, economic growth and social value. This work will be completed by February and therefore, Ministers have taken the decision to delay the commencement of the new regime until the new NPPS is in place. I am confident that this extra time will allow for a more seamless transition, ensuring a smoother and more effective implementation process for both contracting authorities and suppliers. The NPPS laid by the previous administration, and which would have come into force with the Act, will be withdrawn.