Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what analysis his Department has undertaken of the financial viability of those construction companies that have won public procurement projects with a contract value of more than £5m in the last five years.
Answered by Oliver Dowden - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 require public procurers to award contracts through fair and open competition, in line with principles of equal treatment, transparency and non-discrimination.
Suppliers have to meet certain criteria to be able to bid for public contracts, including a minimum level of financial and economic standing as determined by the public body running the procurement. This may be proven through turnover, audited accounts or other financial measures.
These financial checks are carried out by the Contracting Authority who conduct their own risk assessments.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the primary causes of mortality are in constituencies where the average life expectancy for males is less than 68 years and for females is less than 70 years.
Answered by Chloe Smith
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will list the constituencies where average life expectancy is lower now than in 2010.
Answered by Chloe Smith
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Cabinet Office, which Department is taking the lead on developing free trade deals for food products.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
The Department for International Trade is responsible for delivering a new trade policy framework for the UK as we leave the EU. It works closely with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which is responsible for supporting our world-leading food and farming industry.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has plans to postpone the 2018 Boundary Commission Review.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
The Government's manifesto re-affirms the commitment to deliver equal and updated boundaries and reduce the size of the House of Commons.
Following laws already passed by Parliament, the independent and impartial Boundary Commissions are consulting on their proposals to deliver the boundary changes, and they will submit their final proposals to Parliament in autumn 2018. These reforms will ensure fair and equal representation for the voting public across the United Kingdom.
Equalising the size of constituencies in the Boundary Review will ensure everyone’s vote will carry equal weight. Without such boundary reforms, MPs could end up representing constituencies based on data that is over 20 years’ old, disregarding significant changes in demographics, house building and migration.