Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Public Procurement: SMEs

Thursday 25 June 2026 · 5 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 3 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government strengthened late payment rules and set targets for Departments to spend 7 billion with SMEs by 2028.
  • Small businesses will receive over 7 billion annually from government procurement, supporting local communities.
  • Reforms include redefining social value to support local communities and jobs, benefiting companies in public procurement.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Liz Twist Lab Blaydon and Consett
Business & Trade
Context

The questioner highlights the need to support small and medium-sized businesses through public procurement reforms.

Question

What steps is the Minister taking to help support small and medium-sized businesses through reforms to public procurement?

Answer from Chris Ward

This Government are determined to ensure that public procurement backs small and medium-sized enterprises. We have strengthened late payment rules, set ambitious targets for Departments to spend more with SMEs—totalling £7 billion by 2028—and are simplifying the system. The Federation of Small Businesses is involved in this work.

Answered
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Q2 Harpreet Uppal Lab Huddersfield
Business & Trade
Context

The questioner highlights Antich & Sons, a family-owned textiles company that aligns with the industrial strategy and northern growth strategy.

Question

What are this Government doing to help companies like Antich & Sons access procurement processes?

Answer from Chris Ward

Small businesses will now receive over £7 billion a year from government procurement, supporting the industrial strategy. This will support more money, jobs and opportunities in local communities.

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Q3 Liz Twist Lab Blaydon and Consett
Business & Trade
Context

The questioner highlights Dellner Glass Solutions, a company in her constituency that supplies window and door systems to the UK's world-leading bus manufacturing market.

Question

What steps is the Minister taking to ensure that reforms to public procurement support the growth of companies like Dellner Glass Solutions across the UK bus manufacturing supply chain?

Answer from Chris Ward

We have announced a 10-year pipeline with over £70 million funding for zero emission buses. We are also working on redefining social value to ensure it supports local communities and jobs, which should help companies like Dellner Glass Solutions stand out in public procurement.

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Q4 Ashley Fox Con Bridgwater
Justice & Courts
Context

The questioner points out the Ministry of Justice commissioning fewer hours of education and training in prisons due to an increase in unit price, suggesting small businesses should be allowed to bid for contracts.

Question

Will the Minister confirm whether these reforms will apply to the provision of services to prisons?

Answer from Chris Ward

The reforms apply to all Departments, including the MOJ. I will ask colleagues in the Ministry of Justice about this specific issue and get back to him with specifics.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific details on procurement reforms for prison education and training services

How: I Will Ask Colleagues...

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Q5 Clive Jones Lib Dem Wokingham
Economy Business & Trade
Context

The questioner notes that only 5% of the defence procurement budget is allocated to SMEs and asks how the Government will change this.

Question

How will the Government change public procurement to benefit SMEs and the economy?

Answer from Chris Ward

We need to do more to support SMEs using our procurement budget. We have announced new guidance to ensure contracts go to British companies in sectors like steel and shipping, and to help small businesses.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific changes for defence procurement to benefit SMEs

How: We Need To Do More...

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