Key Facts

• The World Trade Organisation suggests a global trade fall between 13% and 32% due to the covid crisis.
• The GDP drop is larger than during the financial crisis, being the largest recorded historically.
• The amendment would require the relevant authority to make regulations for GPA implementation.
• The Trade Bill aims to secure continuity in more than 40 trade agreements and maintain membership of the World Trade Organisation’s government procurement agreement.
• The UK intends to join the GPA as a member in its own right by December 31, ensuring access to £1.3 trillion a year of procurement opportunities for UK businesses.
• There are concerns about British companies' ability to compete honestly in public procurement markets in countries like China and Russia.
• The GPA includes 20 members, mostly western liberal democracies.
• Australia is the most recent member to join the GPA.
• Clause 1 powers are needed for compliance with international obligations after accession.
• Amendments aim to improve public health, support small businesses, and include labour standards.
• The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 will expire on December 31, 2020.
• NAECI sets a minimum rate of pay at £18.63 an hour.
• The amendment aims to cover small and medium-sized enterprises including social enterprises.
• Hackney Community Transport is highlighted for providing employment opportunities for offenders.
• Baywind Energy Co-operative supplies renewable energy that may be more expensive than nuclear power from Sellafield but crucial for climate action.
• The Office for National Statistics reports a loss of about 40,000 green jobs despite tripling the renewable output in the UK's energy mix over ten years.
• The report by the Crown Commercial Service from 2018-19 stated work had continued on supporting government growth strategies through public procurement.
• In the US, federal public procurement involves 25% of all federal monies, compared to only 11% in the UK four years ago.
• The MP runs a microbusiness and found it extremely hard to contract with Governments at national or local levels before entering Parliament.
• The Government spends nearly £6.5 billion on procuring with UK SMEs.
• Scottish procurement has been significantly better in terms of proportion of contracts going to SMEs compared to the UK figure.
• Manchester City Council and Warrington North have delivered support for workers and public health agendas.
• Bill Esterson's constituent can manufacture 40,000 reusable medical robes per month.
• A British man in California designed saliva-only tests but faced difficulties getting UK approval.
• The Government's procurement process allegedly discriminates against northern firms based on geography.
• Graham Brady responds to a point of order made by Maria Caulfield regarding adherence to the scope of the Trade Bill.
• The debate had been ongoing for more than an hour and was on only the second group of amendments.
• The amendments aim to address public health impacts, environmental standards, and social considerations in procurement.
• The TUC expresses concerns over limitations in GPA provisions compared to EU Procurement Directive 2014.
• Section 56(2) of the Public Contracts Regulations requires contractors to comply with applicable environmental law and social labour standards.
• The Modern Slavery Act 2015 is cited as a model for supply chain policing.
• Security contracts are mentioned as an example of how amendments might be applied.
• Amendment 24 addresses labour market interventions and compliance with ILO standards.
• UK ratified 87 conventions including eight core fundamental ILO conventions.
• Amendment 24 aligns with the ILO's declaration on fundamental principles and rights at work.
• The EU-Vietnam free trade agreement has been praised for its commitment to labor standards.
• Chapter 13 of the EU-Vietnam FTA reaffirms commitments under the ILO.
• TUC expressed concerns about freedom of association, child labour, discrimination, low pay and dismissal without notice.
• Trade deals have been struck with countries where labour and human rights abuses are prevalent.
• South Korea has imprisoned trade union leaders for peaceful protests.
• Colombia is the most dangerous country in the world for trade unionists.
• Lebanon's agreement allows for exploitation of migrant domestic workers.
• The Paris agreement was deemed legally fatal to a policy statement regarding Heathrow airport expansion.
• Investment chapters allow companies to sue governments over climate measures.
• Trade agreements can hinder the sharing of green technology and increase fossil fuel use.
• Over 60 businesses in Anderson's constituency have requested help during the pandemic.
• SMEs make up 39% of businesses in her constituency and are crucial for economic recovery.
• The EU agreements provide vital protection to the NHS from commercial pressures.
• Concerns exist about rolling back current procurement regulations post-Brexit.
• Amendments seek additional protection for local organisations and small businesses.
• Example given of Hackney Community Transport competing with large corporations.
• Mention of Harrow Community Transport's struggle to survive.
• Reference to the Modern Slavery Act's importance in supply chain transparency.
• Support for co-operative organizations and community wealth building initiatives.
• Co-operative sectors in Germany, France, Netherlands, Finland, Sweden, and New Zealand account for between 4% to 10% of GDP compared with 2% in the UK.
• By 2030, the number of people needing help with basic needs such as washing, feeding, or clothing will double to 2 million.
• Amendment 26 aims to assist small and medium-sized businesses within the co-operative sector to win more public contracts.
• Amendments seek to place a statutory obligation on negotiations with GPA parties before creating regulations.
• The UK’s GPA coverage does not cover healthcare services but covers goods and certain services procured by the NHS above specific value thresholds.
• The Department for International Trade annual report will be published each year from 2021.
• EU public contracts regulations date from 2015.
• The Federation of Small Businesses supports UK's GPA accession.
• New measures were announced in September 2019 to tackle slavery, servitude, forced labour, and human trafficking in Government supply chains.
• New clause 1 focuses on social impact including worker and consumer rights.
• New clause 2 addresses environmental impacts towards meeting Net Zero targets and managing waste.
• New clause 3 covers public health outcomes such as food safety and standards in production.
• New clause 4 involves economic impact reviews.
• New clause 10 requires reviews of regulations' impact on SMEs.
• Reviews must be laid before both Houses of Parliament starting by December 31, 2021.
• New clause 14 mandates reviews of the impact on individuals with protected characteristics under the Equalities Act 2010.
• Subsequent reviews shall be conducted annually thereafter.
• The UK’s membership of the GPA ensures guaranteed access to approximately £1.3 trillion per year in procurement opportunities.
• Clause 1 allows the Government to implement UK’s independent GPA membership in domestic law.
• Regulations under clause 1(1) cannot be used for wholesale renegotiation of the GPA or changes to market access offer, requiring further primary legislation.
• Amendment 31 aims to clarify the definition of an international agreement.
• Clause 2(2) currently refers to 'an international agreement that mainly relates to trade, other than a free trade agreement'.
• The proposed amendment provides a clearer purpose for international agreements: reducing barriers to trade in goods and services.
• Amendment 15 seeks to insert a definition in clause 4 to cover 'international agreement that mainly relates to trade'.
• Mutual recognition agreements (MRAs) are crucial for minimising non-tariff barriers and ensuring continuity for UK businesses post-Brexit.
• Investment treaties, which were under EU competence from 2009 to 2018, now fall back within the UK's responsibility.
• Amendment 15 is to be considered at a later stage in the Bill.
• The committee adjourns until Tuesday 23 June at 9:25 pm.