Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Public Procurement: Employment

Thursday 23 October 2025 · 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 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Public bodies are examining how to deliver public services more effectively.
  • Government is consulting on proposals to introduce a public interest test.
  • Consultation aims to boost domestic supply chains and create more opportunities.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Andy McDonald Lab Middlesbrough and Thornaby East
Social Care Employment
Context

The government has committed to improving terms, conditions, and career progression in adult social care with a planned fair pay agreement and the care workforce pathway. This context informs the specific policy area of employment opportunities.

Question

With the Government’s welcome commitment to improving terms, conditions and career progression in adult social care, as demonstrated through the planned fair pay agreement and the care workforce pathway, will the Minister confirm that the Government’s response to the public procurement consultation will deliver a public interest test that accelerates insourcing and requires providers to recognise trades unions, as well as more sustainable careers and long-term employment opportunities?

Answer from Nick Thomas-Symonds (Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office)

As always, my hon. Friend makes a powerful case. The Government want public bodies to examine carefully how best to deliver public services. That is why we are consulting on proposals to introduce a public interest test, allowing for the evaluation of services being more effectively delivered in-house before they are contracted out, covering value for money, service quality and wider social and economic benefit. We will consider the range of responses, including those from trades unions.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The minister did not confirm the specific requirements for accelerating insourcing or provider recognition of trade unions.

How: Consulting On Proposals, Considering Range Of Responses

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Euan Stainbank Lab Falkirk
Employment Business & Trade Local Government
Context

Alexander Dennis, a significant bus manufacturer, employs 13 jobs for every four directly hired in the industry. After facing financial difficulties due to the Scottish National Party's Chinese bus-buying strategy, the company spent nearly £4 million rectifying this issue.

Question

I declare an interest as the co-chair of the all-party parliamentary group for British buses. Alexander Dennis and Wrightbus create 13 jobs for every four directly hired in bus manufacturing, and for decades Alexander Dennis has been an invaluable piece of the Scottish economy. After the business almost left Scotland following the Scottish National party’s disastrous Chinese bus-buying strategy, to its credit it spent nearly £4 million fixing the near fatal error. Will the Minister set out what the Cabinet Office is doing through public procurement so that my constituents’ taxpayer money is maximising Falkirk, Scottish and British-based businesses?

Answer from Nick Thomas-Symonds (Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office)

Unlike the SNP Government, evidently, this Labour Government believe that where things are made and who makes them matters. That is why we are consulting on further procurement reforms to boost domestic supply chains and create more opportunities for businesses of all sizes, whether that be in Falkirk or across the United Kingdom.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The minister did not provide specific details about how public procurement policies were maximizing support for local businesses.

How: Consulting On Further Procurement Reforms

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email