Public Procurement 2026-04-23
2026-04-23
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The question seeks information on steps bei [3D [K being taken to reform public procurement processes.
What steps he is taking to reform public procurem [8D [K procurement?
I am bringing forward a major package of reforms to [2D [K to procurement policy. This includes directing Government procurement in th [2D [K the national interest, ending outsourcing across Departments, and streamlin [9D [K streamlining the process. Further details and new guidance will be brought [K forward as soon as possible.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Specific timeline or full details of reforms not [K provided
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The question highlights a correlation betwe [5D [K between political donations and government contracts, questioning the trans [5D [K transparency and accountability of such practices.
Since 2015, companies that donated to political p [1D [K parties have secured £60 billion-worth of Government contracts. This highli [6D [K highlights everything that the public dislike about politics. Does the Mini [4D [K Minister therefore agree that for the sake of transparency and accountabili [12D [K accountability, it is time to break the link between big-money donors and t [1D [K the Governments they pay to elect?
The Government are concerned about risks mentioned. [10D [K mentioned. Procurement Act 2023 preserves integrity of procurement process, [8D [K process, elections Bill tightens up regulation including ban on crypto dona [4D [K donations.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Does not directly address breaking the link betwe [5D [K between big-money donors and government contracts
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The question addresses the redundancy at De [2D [K Denby Pottery and seeks inclusion of ceramics in the British industry super [5D [K supercharger scheme due to public support for the #SaveDenby campaign.
Yesterday, when I asked the Minister to include c [1D [K ceramics in the 'back British business' procurement strategy, he said that [K the strategy only covers four sectors deemed vital to national security. Si [2D [K Since then, a further 49 workers have been made redundant at Denby Pottery [K in my constituency. Will the Minister commit today to including ceramics wi [2D [K within the scope of new public procurement changes before more jobs are los [3D [K lost?
Denby is an iconic British manufacturer, and I know [4D [K know the anxiety that the workforce will feel. Ceramics is not part of the [K original four sectors but we want to go further; I am happy to meet her to [K discuss this issue. Wider measures announced including changes to social va [2D [K value calculations will benefit ceramics sector.
▸
Assessment & feedback
No direct commitment to include ceramics within n [1D [K new procurement strategy
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The MP visited the Royal Mail depot in Elle [4D [K Ellesmere Port, highlighting a newly purchased van from the Stellantis fact [4D [K factory. This visit demonstrated the potential of supporting British indust [6D [K industries through procurement practices.
Last week, I had the pleasure of visiting the Roy [3D [K Royal Mail depot in Ellesmere Port, where I went in one of its newly purcha [6D [K purchased vans from the Stellantis factory just down the road—a perfect exa [3D [K example of how we should be supporting British industry. I urge the Ministe [7D [K Minister to look further at this issue, because what he has announced is a [K start, but it does not go far enough. We need to make sure that every schoo [5D [K school, hospital, council, utility and big provider of services in this cou [3D [K country is looking at how it can buy British and support our great manufact [8D [K manufacturing sector.
I thank my hon. Friend for his question. I also met [3D [K met Royal Mail in my constituency recently and had a similar conversation, [K and I understand his point. As I say, I am not pretending that we have gone [4D [K gone the full journey with procurement reform. We are taking big steps, but [3D [K but we need to go further, and I am very happy to work with my hon. Friend [K and others to do so.
▸
Assessment & feedback
The specific ask for detailed commitments on proc [4D [K procurement practices was not addressed directly; the answer included gener [5D [K general support without concrete actions.
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The MP references two specific businesses i [1D [K in his constituency that should benefit from the government's procurement p [1D [K policies.
Happy St George's day, Mr Speaker. I thank the Mi [2D [K Minister for his earlier remarks on procurement, and I agree that £400 bill [4D [K billion of public spending is a significant lever that this Labour Governme [8D [K Government have to better support businesses across our country. How will t [1D [K the Minister and his colleagues across Government work with me to ensure th [2D [K that our public money will be spent well and deliver for well-skilled jobs [K in Harlow?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Communities sho [3D [K should be benefiting much more from the taxpayers' money we are spending on [2D [K on procurement. I believe he mentioned two businesses in his constituency y [1D [K yesterday—Wright's Flour mill and Lea Valley growers. To be clear, those ar [2D [K are exactly the type of businesses we have in mind when we say we are tryin [5D [K trying to support local businesses to make a big impact in the community wi [2D [K with lots of local jobs and so on.
▸
Assessment & feedback
The answer did not include specific commitments o [1D [K or actions to ensure these businesses benefit from procurement policies, on [2D [K only acknowledging the importance of supporting such businesses.
Response accuracy
Q6
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The MP highlights low public confidence due [3D [K due to repeated failures by the government.
Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Minister for h [1D [K his answers and for his endeavours to try to do better. The Minister and th [2D [K this House must recognise that public confidence is incredibly low due to r [1D [K repeated failures by the Government to do the right thing. How can the Gove [4D [K Government and the Minister ensure that changes take effect that restore co [2D [K confidence and remove any shade from areas of government? We have an obliga [6D [K obligation as elected representatives to openness and transparency.
The hon. Gentleman is right to flag that concern, a [1D [K and it is something that the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister is worki [5D [K working hard on with a package of reforms around transparency. On procureme [9D [K procurement changes, I emphasise that I am trying to work with businesses, [K unions, charities, the voluntary sector and as many people as I can to brin [4D [K bring them in. The more we listen to them, the more we will get this right, [6D [K right, but he makes a broader point that I know my colleagues are working h [1D [K hard on, too.
▸
Assessment & feedback
The answer did not provide specific details or ti [2D [K timelines for reforms and changes to improve transparency and restore publi [5D [K public confidence.
Response accuracy