Asked by: David Anderson (Labour - Blaydon)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if, as an alternative to the provisions in Regulation 77 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (S.I., 2015, No. 102), laid before the House on 5 February 2015, he will bring foward legislative proposals to reserve contracts for tightly defined co-operatives, mutuals and social enterprises; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Lord Maude of Horsham
The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 implement Directive 2014/24/EU on public procurement, and came into effect on 26 February 2014. In the negotiations on that Directive, the UK was successful in securing new flexibility, at Article 77, for certain service contracts to be reserved for competition by organisations meeting certain criteria, such as mutuals and social enterprises. Regulation 77 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 implements Article 77 of the Directive, in compliance with European law.
As part of the Government’s consultation on proposals for transposition of the EU Public Procurement Directives 2014, 5 out of 204 respondents requested that the regulations should oblige contracting authorities to include clauses in contracts requiring consideration of social, employment and environmental criteria.
The government's response to the consultation can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/transposing-the-2014-eu-procurement-directives
Asked by: David Anderson (Labour - Blaydon)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will delay implementation of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 to ensure that appropriate guidance on trading companies exemptions, reserved contracts provisions, Article 18.2, best price-quality ratio provisions and the new light touch regime can be issued to contracting authorities in time for them to update procurement procedures.
Answered by Lord Maude of Horsham
The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 came into effect on 26 February. They will enable authorities to run procurements that are faster, less costly and more effective.
During 2014, the Crown Commercial Service provided training on the new directives to more than 4,000 procurement officials.
Further information, including guidance and training material can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/transposing-eu-procurement-directives
Asked by: David Anderson (Labour - Blaydon)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the effect of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 on the ability of contracting authorities to plan joint health and social care commissioning.
Answered by Lord Maude of Horsham
The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 came into effect on 26 February. They will enable authorities to run procurements that are faster, less costly and more effective.
During 2014, the Crown Commercial Service provided training on the new directives to more than 4,000 procurement officials.
Further information, including guidance and training material can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/transposing-eu-procurement-directives
Asked by: David Anderson (Labour - Blaydon)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason his Department's consultation on transposition of the EU public procurement directive was limited to four weeks.
Answered by Lord Maude of Horsham
This consultation on the draft Public Contracts Regulations 2015 complies with the Government’s Consultation Principles, and formally concludes a long-running period of continuous UK stakeholder engagement that commenced in 2011 when the European Commission’s own consultations began.
Following the publication of a Procurement Policy note in late 2013, the Cabinet Office engaged with stakeholders interested in specific policy areas. The comprehensive feedback from this exercise meant that a four week consultation period was appropriate and proportionate given the limited scope and impact of the remaining issues on which to consult.
This consultation attracted a large number of responses, which shows the period allowed was reasonable.
Asked by: David Anderson (Labour - Blaydon)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what evidence he has of attempts by foreign intelligence services to instigate cyber attacks on UK companies; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Lord Maude of Horsham
As was the case under previous administrations, we do not normally comment on details of cyber security attacks.