To match an exact phrase, use quotation marks around the search term. eg. "Parliamentary Estate". Use "OR" or "AND" as link words to form more complex queries.


Keep yourself up-to-date with the latest developments by exploring our subscription options to receive notifications direct to your inbox

Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 28 Jun 2021
Security of Ministers’ Offices and Communications

Speech Link

View all Debbie Abrahams (Lab - Oldham East and Saddleworth) contributions to the debate on: Security of Ministers’ Offices and Communications

Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 27 May 2021
Oral Answers to Questions

Speech Link

View all Debbie Abrahams (Lab - Oldham East and Saddleworth) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions

Written Question
Government Departments: Procurement
Tuesday 18th May 2021

Asked by: Debbie Abrahams (Labour - Oldham East and Saddleworth)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what information his Department holds on how many (a) Government departments and (b) agencies and non-departmental bodies have regularly refused to use Project Bank Accounts in the last three years; and what the reasons were for not using such accounts.

Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to PQ185363 on 26 April 2021.


Written Question
Government Departments: Procurement
Monday 17th May 2021

Asked by: Debbie Abrahams (Labour - Oldham East and Saddleworth)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, where a Department, agency or a non-departmental body has a compelling reason not to use a Project Bank Account what procedure is in place to record that reason and its justification; and who has the authority to sanction that reason.

Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to PQ185363 on 26 April 2021.


Written Question
Government Departments: Procurement
Monday 17th May 2021

Asked by: Debbie Abrahams (Labour - Oldham East and Saddleworth)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the lack of data on the use of Project Bank Accounts (PBAs) by Government construction procurers, what steps his Department plans to take to monitor the implementation of its policy that PBAs must be used unless there are compelling reasons not to use them.

Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to PQ185363 on 26 April 2021.


Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 12 May 2021
Covid-19 Update

Speech Link

View all Debbie Abrahams (Lab - Oldham East and Saddleworth) contributions to the debate on: Covid-19 Update

Written Question
Government Departments: Procurement
Monday 26th April 2021

Asked by: Debbie Abrahams (Labour - Oldham East and Saddleworth)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to increase the use of Project Bank Accounts by (a) Government departments, (b) Government agencies and (c) non-departmental bodies.

Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

This Department does not hold specific information on the use of Project Bank Accounts. However, as the PBA policy lead we do engage with departments and their ALBs about their PBA usage, including indicative spend.

Whilst the use of PBAs was being established we collected data on the value of government contracts making use of PBAs. During that period (2011-2015) over £10 billion was spent on a wide range of construction projects using PBAs.

PBAs are the preferred option by government when it is cost effective and efficient, and departments have made a commitment to use PBAs unless there are compelling reasons not to. This has been restated in the Construction Playbook (December 2020), which sets out key policies and guidance for government departments and their arms length bodies on how public works projects and programmes are assessed, procured and delivered. PBAs are just one way the government supports fair payment as part of the Government's Prompt Payment Code.


Written Question
Government Departments: Procurement
Monday 26th April 2021

Asked by: Debbie Abrahams (Labour - Oldham East and Saddleworth)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what data his Department holds on the total value of Government works using a Project Bank Account.

Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

This Department does not hold specific information on the use of Project Bank Accounts. However, as the PBA policy lead we do engage with departments and their ALBs about their PBA usage, including indicative spend.

Whilst the use of PBAs was being established we collected data on the value of government contracts making use of PBAs. During that period (2011-2015) over £10 billion was spent on a wide range of construction projects using PBAs.

PBAs are the preferred option by government when it is cost effective and efficient, and departments have made a commitment to use PBAs unless there are compelling reasons not to. This has been restated in the Construction Playbook (December 2020), which sets out key policies and guidance for government departments and their arms length bodies on how public works projects and programmes are assessed, procured and delivered. PBAs are just one way the government supports fair payment as part of the Government's Prompt Payment Code.


Written Question
Government Departments: Procurement
Monday 26th April 2021

Asked by: Debbie Abrahams (Labour - Oldham East and Saddleworth)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what information he holds on the use of Project Bank Accounts by (a) Government departments, (b) Government agencies and (c) non-departmental bodies.

Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

This Department does not hold specific information on the use of Project Bank Accounts. However, as the PBA policy lead we do engage with departments and their ALBs about their PBA usage, including indicative spend.

Whilst the use of PBAs was being established we collected data on the value of government contracts making use of PBAs. During that period (2011-2015) over £10 billion was spent on a wide range of construction projects using PBAs.

PBAs are the preferred option by government when it is cost effective and efficient, and departments have made a commitment to use PBAs unless there are compelling reasons not to. This has been restated in the Construction Playbook (December 2020), which sets out key policies and guidance for government departments and their arms length bodies on how public works projects and programmes are assessed, procured and delivered. PBAs are just one way the government supports fair payment as part of the Government's Prompt Payment Code.


Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 14 Apr 2021
Oral Answers to Questions

Speech Link

View all Debbie Abrahams (Lab - Oldham East and Saddleworth) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions