Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Public Procurement: Net Zero

Thursday 11 May 2023 · 2 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 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government suppliers must report emissions and commit to the UK's net zero target for contracts above 5 million per annum.
  • Failure to meet net zero commitments risks exclusion from procurement processes.
  • Important debates around net zero procurement took place during the Procurement Bill passage.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Kerry McCarthy Lab Bristol East
Economy Climate Energy
Context

The question focuses on the role of public procurement in achieving government's net zero emissions goals.

Question

What assessment has been made of the role of public procurement policy in helping the Government meet their net zero targets?

Answer from Alex Burghart

Government suppliers are required to report emissions and commit to UK's net zero target for contracts above £5 million per annum, failing which they risk exclusion from procurement processes.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific role of public sector food and catering services in carbon reduction was not addressed.

How: Under Review

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Q2 Kerry McCarthy Lab Bristol East
Climate Agriculture & Rural Affairs Environment
Context

The question builds on the initial inquiry regarding public procurement policies. The MP references a significant annual expenditure of £5 billion on public sector food and catering services and highlights concerns raised in Henry Dimbleby's national food strategy about monopolistic practices in this area.

Question

Around £5 billion a year is spent on public sector food and catering services, and the national food strategy—Henry Dimbleby's version—said that public food procurement is dominated by a quasi-monopoly. How does that fit in with the policy note on carbon reductions, and are the Government looking to food suppliers through those contracts to reduce their carbon emissions?

Answer from Alex Burghart

Net zero is a big principle for Government, including procurement work. Important debates around this occurred during the Procurement Bill passage.

Not addressed: The specifics of how food suppliers are encouraged to reduce carbon emissions and address monopolistic practices were not provided.

How: Important Principle, Debates

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