Oral Answers to Questions

Julian Smith Excerpts

Wednesday 24th November 2010 Commons Chamber

[Michael Ellis (Northampton North) (Con)]

5. What plans he has to encourage opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises to apply for Government contracts.

[Julian Smith (Skipton and Ripon) (Con)]

12. What plans he has to increase engagement of small businesses in public procurement processes.

[Damian Collins (Folkestone and Hythe) (Con)]

14. What plans he has to encourage opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises to apply for Government contracts.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Letwin]

The short answer is yes—and abundantly so. The measures I just described are intended to do that. In addition, we are looking at the causes of delay in the procurement process because, as was mentioned earlier, that is often part of the problem. We are also requiring suppliers to pay their subcontractors within 30 days, and encouraging them to pass those payments right down the line to the smallest businesses.

[Julian Smith]

These are great measures for small business, but may I impress upon the ministerial team the need to move forward with them now, because British small business is desperate for access to these contracts? So—please, please, please—get on with it now.

[Mr Letwin]

I am happy to be able to tell my hon. Friend that that is precisely what we are doing. That is why we are publishing every contract for tender of over £10,000 on a website, enabling people to see the opportunities. It is also why we have put in every Department’s business plan the requirement to report on the percentage by value of contracts they have let to small and medium-sized enterprises. We shall measure the extent to which Departments fulfil that requirement. [Interruption.]