Public Sector Contracts Fraud 2023-02-02
2023-02-02
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The question follows the establishment of the Public Sector Fraud Authority to address fraud issues. The context involves steps taken by the Department to tackle fraud.
What steps his Department is taking to tackle fraud in public sector contracts?
Last year we established the Public Sector Fraud Authority as a centre of excellence to work with Departments and public bodies to understand and reduce the impact of fraud. It does so by providing expertise and best-in-class tools to prevent and detect fraud, including in contracts. The Procurement Bill will also fight fraud through extending the grounds for exclusion and by establishing a debarment list.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The question addresses issues revealed by independent inquiries related to conflicts of interest in public sector procurement during the covid pandemic. It seeks improvements beyond what is currently proposed in the Procurement Bill.
The covid pandemic exposed several conflict of interest problems in public sector procurement. The Government's Procurement Bill is an excellent opportunity to address those, but it does not pick up all the issues raised by the Government's own independent inquiries. What will the Minister do to improve on that?
I beg to differ slightly with my right hon. Friend because, as the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office said, we are absolutely determined to ensure that the Procurement Bill is a step forward in transparency and how we handle conflicts of interest. I believe that it will help to give more reassurance on exactly that topic, but I am more than happy to meet my right hon. Friend if he has further ideas.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific actions beyond the Procurement Bill not addressed
Beg To Differ
Meet My Right Hon. Friend
Response accuracy