Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure the Department for Education complies with procurement guidelines by removing references to retention deductions from all future building work procurement contracts.

The department takes into account all legislation and government guidance in its construction procurements, including procurement policy notes and the Construction Playbook. Its approach to contractual payment mechanisms balances the efficient operation of its construction contracts and management of public money against the expectations of the construction sector. The use of retentions in construction contracts is subject to ongoing consultation across government, and the industry and the department are keen to be part of this debate.