Public Contracts Small and Medium-sized Enterprises 2023-05-11
2023-05-11
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
SMEs are crucial to Bristol South's economy and job creation, but there may be gaps in current support mechanisms.
What steps the Government are taking to support small and medium-sized enterprises bidding for public contracts. I am pleased to hear about the Procurement Bill because small and medium-sized businesses are fundamental to the economy of Bristol South and for jobs. What steps will the Minister be taking to address gaps in the Procurement Bill to enforce payment deadlines and to make sure that filters down through the supply chain to help small businesses in my constituency?
This Government are supporting small and medium-sized enterprises by transparently publishing contract pipelines, simplifying bidding procedures. The Procurement Bill creates a simpler and more transparent procurement regime that will further open up public procurement to SMEs. The Bill includes a new duty on contracting authorities to have regard to the particular barriers facing SMEs. We want transparency, simplicity and fairness. On that third point, we are keen to see people pay their bills promptly so that SMEs throughout the supply chain can get their money when they need it.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific measures to enforce payment deadlines were not detailed beyond a general commitment to fairness and prompt payments.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
SMEs in Bristol South are crucial for economic growth and job creation, but there may be gaps in current support mechanisms.
What steps will the Minister be taking to address gaps in the Procurement Bill to enforce payment deadlines and to make sure that filters down through the supply chain to help small businesses in my constituency?
The principles behind the Procurement Bill for SMEs were given to us by SMEs. We want transparency, simplicity and fairness. On that third point, we are keen to see people pay their bills promptly so that SMEs throughout the supply chain can get their money when they need it.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific measures for enforcing payment deadlines were not detailed beyond a general commitment to fairness and prompt payments.
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
SMEs in various constituencies missed out on significant sums of government contracts, raising questions about the effectiveness of current policies.
The Government may offer warm words on SMEs, but small businesses need those opportunities to thrive. Let us look at the evidence to see whether those warm words are backed up. In Brentwood, SMEs missed out on £3 in every £4 of viable suitable Government contracts in 2022. In Hertsmere, they missed out on 79%. In Horsham, SMEs got less than 5% of suitable public money. That amounts to £8.6 million. The Tories may talk about being a party of small businesses, but this Government have had 13 years to help small businesses—why have they not?
We have done a great deal of work to overhaul the archaic regime that the EU left us with. The Procurement Bill is precisely because we want small businesses to get contract pipelines, a single digital platform, prompt payments and a single regime that reduces bureaucracy and administrative burdens. With transparency, simplicity and fairness, this Government are delivering for small and medium-sized enterprises.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific actions addressing missed opportunities were not detailed beyond general commitments to the Procurement Bill's benefits.
Response accuracy