Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Business Bids for Contracts

Thursday 25 November 2021 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial steps include transparently publishing contract pipelines and simplifying the bidding process for British SMEs.
  • Government procurement rules require contracts above 10,000 to be published, ensuring transparency.
  • Investment in research and development, such as 15 billion increasing to 20 billion, aims to support British innovation and use of materials like steel in renewable technology.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Mike Amesbury Lab
Business & Trade
Context

The question addresses the need for British businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), to have increased access to major infrastructure project contracts.

Question

What steps he is taking to increase opportunities for British businesses to bid for contracts on major infrastructure projects?

Answer from Steve Barclay

Small and medium-sized businesses are the backbone of the UK economy. We are increasing opportunities for SMEs in a variety of ways, from transparently publishing contract pipelines to simplifying the bidding process.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not specify concrete steps or mechanisms being employed to increase opportunities for British businesses in major infrastructure contracts.

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Q2 Jonathan Gullis
Business Compliance Parliamentary Procedure Local Government
Context

The question pertains to the procurement rules that prevent Stoke-on-Trent's world-leading ceramics companies from bidding for contracts under £10,000 due to lack of open tendering processes.

Question

I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for his answer. I am always proud to see Stoke-on-Trent's world-leading ceramics across the parliamentary estate when I am busy plate turning, but sadly, the same cannot be said for every Department. Under current Government and parliamentary procurement rules, purchases of less than £10,000 do not require an open tendering process. That freezes out many local ceramics companies, such as Churchill China and Steelite in my Stoke-on-Trent North, Kidsgrove and Talke constituency. Can my right hon. Friend advise me how we will improve procurement rules to ensure that Stoke-on-Trent's world-leading ceramics have a fair crack of the whip and can be spread across Whitehall?

Answer from Steve Barclay

My hon. Friend is right to be proud of those industries, and he is also right to draw a distinction between contracts above £10,000, which need to be published, and those below £10,000, albeit of course that those below £10,000 still need to deliver value for money. We are looking, through the legislation that we are bringing forward on procurement, at how we can allow greater comparability in public contracts—that £300 billion of spend—so that we drive better value for money. We are also supporting SMEs through things such as Help to Grow: Digital and Help to Grow: Management in order that they are better enabled to bid for those important contracts.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not address the specific issue of improving procurement rules below £10,000 to ensure local ceramics companies have a fair chance.

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Q3 Mike Amesbury Lab
Economy Climate Energy
Context

The question relates to the historical importation of wind turbines from abroad for UK offshore projects, asking about government initiatives to support British-made renewable energy equipment.

Question

The rows and rows of wind turbines off our shores have, historically, largely been imported from abroad. What are the Government and the Minister doing to ensure that onshore and offshore renewable technology is British made using British steel?

Answer from Steve Barclay

There are two aspects to that question. First, there is the investment we are making—for example, the £15 billion, increasing to £20 billion, in research and development so that we can make the most of innovation and technical opportunities, building on our university sector expertise. Secondly, covid has shone a light on the importance of resilience in supply chains and the benefits in certain sectors of onshoring more of our supply chains. I think that is one positive that has come out of the covid process.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not specify concrete measures or commitments regarding the manufacturing of renewable technology using British steel and materials.

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