Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of her Department's suppliers for (a) ICT (b) stationery and (c) office furniture are (i) supplied by UK businesses and (ii) manufactured in the UK.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

how many and what proportion of her Department's suppliers for:

(a) ICT (i) supplied by UK businesses and (ii) manufactured in the UK

The information requested is not collected centrally. Providing an answer to this element of the question would incur disproportionate cost.

(b) stationery (i) supplied by UK businesses and (ii) manufactured in the UK

DWP’s contract for office products has been procured through the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) Office Solutions Framework RM6299; further information can be found here: Office Solutions - CCS

DWP has 1 UK based supplier for all our stationery requirements. There is no specific requirement or metric with which we record the country of manufacture for each individual stationery item procured.

(c) office furniture (i) supplied by UK businesses and (ii) manufactured in the UK

We currently have two furniture suppliers in contract, with DWP Senator Group and Bates Office Services. Both are UK based.

Senator Group fully manufacturer all products within their UK site. Bates office services utilise a combined sourcing approach to manufacturing where in products are partially manufactured in the UK and partially sourced from outside the UK.

The furniture is purchased via procurement from CCS frameworks, and all Office furniture meets the Government hub standards and Includes supply, delivery, and installation.

More broadly, the Government is committed to supporting British businesses and the products they produce, ensuring they have the best opportunities to win UK public contracts and deliver high-quality goods and services.

Cabinet Office are consulting on a package of further reforms to public procurement to support the Government’s Industrial Strategy.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to encourage the procurement of British-made office products and stationery by (a) her Department and (b) its arms-length bodies.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Government is committed to supporting British businesses and the products they produce, ensuring they have the best opportunities to win UK public contracts and deliver high-quality goods and services.

Cabinet Office are consulting on a package of further reforms to public procurement to support the Government’s Industrial Strategy.

The Government maintains robust standards across a range of categories of spend, these are set out by the Government Buying Standards, including for Paper & paper products. Furthermore, Government has also implemented a Timber Procurement Policy to ensure that only timber and wood-derived products (including paper) originating from an independently verifiable Legal and Sustainable source will be used on the government estate.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, from which countries her Department has sourced (a) pulp and (b) finished paper for (i) official stationery and (ii) other printed materials.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Government is committed to supporting British businesses and the products they produce, ensuring they have the best opportunities to win UK public contracts and deliver high-quality goods and services.

Cabinet Office are consulting on a package of further reforms to public procurement to support the Government’s Industrial Strategy.

The Government maintains robust standards across a range of categories of spend, these are set out by the Government Buying Standards, including for Paper & paper products. Furthermore, Government has also implemented a Timber Procurement Policy to ensure that only timber and wood-derived products (including paper) originating from an independently verifiable Legal and Sustainable source will be used on the government estate.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of her Department’s (a) ICT (b) stationery and (c) office furniture suppliers are (i) supplied by UK businesses and (ii) manufactured in the UK.

Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Government is committed to supporting British business and the products they produce, ensuring they have the best opportunities to win UK public contracts and deliver high-quality goods and services.

Cabinet Office is consulting on a package of further reforms to public procurement to support the Government’s Industrial Strategy.

The Government maintains robust standards across a range of categories on spend and are set out by the Government Buying Standards.

The Ministry of Justice holds one contract for stationary provisions, with the awarded supplier of Banner (UK based), and two contracts for furniture provision, with the awarded supplier of both contracts, Senator International Limited (UK Based).

The Department has 181 unique suppliers of ICT services. 165 of these suppliers are registered as UK based.

The information requested on what proportion is manufactured in the UK is not held centrally.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, from which countries his Department has sourced (a) pulp and (b) finished paper for (i) official stationery and (ii) other printed materials.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Government is committed to supporting British businesses and the products they produce, ensuring they have the best opportunities to win UK public contracts and deliver high-quality goods and services.

Cabinet Office are consulting on a package of further reforms to public procurement to support the Government’s Industrial Strategy.

The Government maintains robust standards across a range of categories of spend, these are set out by the Government Buying Standards, including for Paper & paper products. Furthermore, the Government has also implemented a Timber Procurement Policy to ensure that only timber and wood-derived products (including paper) originating from an independently verifiable Legal and Sustainable source will be used on the Government estate.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to encourage the procurement of British-made office products and stationery by (a) his Department and (b) its arms-length bodies.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Government is committed to supporting British businesses and the products they produce, ensuring they have the best opportunities to win UK public contracts and deliver high-quality goods and services.

The Cabinet Office are consulting on a package of further reforms to public procurement to support the Government’s Industrial Strategy.

The Government maintains robust standards across a range of categories of spend, these are set out by the Government Buying Standards (GBS). e.g. Furniture, Office ICT, and Paper & paper products

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of his Department's (a) ICT (b) stationery and (c) office furniture suppliers are (i) supplied by UK businesses and (ii) manufactured in the UK.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Government is committed to supporting British businesses and the products they produce, ensuring they have the best opportunities to win UK public contracts and deliver high-quality goods and services.

The Cabinet Office are consulting on a package of further reforms to public procurement to support the Government’s Industrial Strategy.

The Government maintains robust standards across a range of categories of spend, these are set out by the Government Buying Standards (GBS). e.g. Furniture, Office ICT, and Paper & paper products

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion of her Department’s (a) ICT (b) stationery and (c) office furniture suppliers are (i) supplied by UK businesses and (ii) manufactured in the UK.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office does not collect data at this level of granularity and the information would only be available at disproportionate cost.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, from which countries her Department has sourced (a) pulp and (b) finished paper for (i) official stationery and (ii) other printed materials.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office does not collect data at this level of granularity and the information would only be available at disproportionate cost.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to encourage the procurement of British-made office products and stationery by (a) the Department and (b) its arms-length bodies.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

Office stationery products are primarily purchased through HO catalogue contract with Banner, a UK based stockist and distributor. The contract focuses on security of supply, catalogue/stock management and reducing the environmental impact of the goods and services whilst maintaining the best value for money. Other ancillary stationary products are purchased through Unite, category specific contracts or sourced low level below threshold purchases.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many and what proportion of her Department’s suppliers for (a) ICT (b) stationery and (c) office furniture are (i) supplied by UK businesses and (ii) manufactured in the UK.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Contracts for office products and materials are awarded in compliance with the relevant public procurement regulations to ensure value for money, utilising Crown Commercial Service framework agreements.

Details of government contracts above £12,000 (inc. VAT) are published on Contracts Finder (https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder) and, if procured under the Procurement Act 2023, on the Central Digital Platform (Find a Tender service). This includes a note of winning suppliers. (https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Search(opens in a new tab)).

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to to encourage the procurement of British-made office products and stationery by (a) her Department and (b) its arms-length bodies.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Contracts for office products and materials are awarded in compliance with the relevant public procurement regulations to ensure value for money, utilising Crown Commercial Service framework agreements.

Details of government contracts above £12,000 (inc. VAT) are published on Contracts Finder (https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder) and, if procured under the Procurement Act 2023, on the Central Digital Platform (Find a Tender service). This includes a note of winning suppliers. (https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Search(opens in a new tab)).

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, from which countries her Department has sourced (a) pulp and (b) finished paper for (i) official stationery and (ii) other printed materials.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Contracts for office products and materials are awarded in compliance with the relevant public procurement regulations to ensure value for money, utilising Crown Commercial Service framework agreements.

Details of government contracts above £12,000 (inc. VAT) are published on Contracts Finder (https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder) and, if procured under the Procurement Act 2023, on the Central Digital Platform (Find a Tender service). This includes a note of winning suppliers. (https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Search(opens in a new tab)).

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps her Department is taking to encourage the procurement of British-made office products and stationery by (a) her Department and (b) its arms-length bodies.

Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Government is committed to supporting British businesses and the products they produce, ensuring they have the best opportunities to win UK public contracts and deliver high-quality goods and services.

Cabinet Office is consulting on a package of further reforms to public procurement to support the Government’s Industrial Strategy.

The Government maintains robust standards across a range of categories of spend, these are set out by the Government Buying Standards, including for paper & paper products. Furthermore, the Government has also implemented a Timber Procurement Policy to ensure that only timber and wood-derived products (including paper) originating from an independently verifiable Legal and Sustainable source will be used on the Government estate.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, from which countries her Department has sourced (a) pulp and (b) finished paper for (i) official stationery and (ii) other printed materials.

Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Government is committed to supporting British businesses and the products they produce, ensuring they have the best opportunities to win UK public contracts and deliver high-quality goods and services.

Cabinet Office is consulting on a package of further reforms to public procurement to support the Government’s Industrial Strategy.

The Government maintains robust standards across a range of categories of spend, these are set out by the Government Buying Standards, including for paper & paper products. Furthermore, the Government has also implemented a Timber Procurement Policy to ensure that only timber and wood-derived products (including paper) originating from an independently verifiable Legal and Sustainable source will be used on the Government estate.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to support local authorities in effectively managing (a) waste disposal, (b) water pollution and (c) other environmental and public safety issues arising from traveller sites.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Planning Policy for Traveller Sites, which can be found on gov.uk here, makes clear that local authorities should ensure that traveller sites are sustainable economically, socially and environmentally. In doing so, authorities should ensure their policies provide for proper consideration of the effect of local environmental quality on the health and well-being of any travellers that may locate there.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many (a) arm’s-length bodies, (b) Government Departments, (c) agencies and (d) public bodies (i) have been assessed as redundant and (ii) are being prioritised for (A) merging and (B) closure.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster announced a full review of all UK government ALBs on April 6, 2025. This review is ongoing, with outcomes to be announced in due course.

The UK government announced on 21st July 2025 that Ofwat would be abolished and replaced by a new, single, more powerful regulator, combining the water-related functions of several agencies. Additionally, on 20th August 2025, the UK government announced that the UK Space Agency will be absorbed into the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology by April 2026.

Question

To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, if the Commission will review the House's procurement frameworks to prioritise UK-manufactured goods and support domestic supply chains.

Answered by Nick Smith

Parliament endeavours to purchase British goods and support domestic supply chains where it is possible and appropriate to do so.

Parliament has procured its frameworks in accordance with applicable law, and has no imminent plans to review those frameworks. Under current legislation and guidance, specifying the origin of goods or services is only permitted if it is necessary to do so in order for our requirements to be understood. The legislation expressly provides that any requirement specifying the origin must allow for equivalents where these exist.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, from which countries the Prime Minister sources (a) pulp and (b) finished paper for (i) official stationery and (ii) other printed materials.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The Government is committed to supporting British businesses and the products they produce, ensuring they have the best opportunities to win UK public contracts and deliver high-quality goods and services.

Cabinet Office are consulting on a package of further reforms to public procurement to support the Government’s Industrial Strategy.

The government maintains robust standards across a range of categories of spend, these are set out by the Government Buying Standards, including for Paper & paper products. Furthermore, Government has also implemented a Timber Procurement Policy to ensure that only timber and wood-derived products (including paper) originating from an independently verifiable Legal and Sustainable source will be used on the government estate.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent steps she has taken to disrupt organised crime groups engaged in the supply of illicit tobacco products.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The actions we are taking to tackle illicit tobacco are set out in the illicit tobacco strategy. Our recent results can be found here, including criminal and civil sanctions as well as seizures.

Question

To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, from which countries the House of Commons sources the paper for its (a) official headed stationery and (b) other printed parliamentary materials.

Answered by Nick Smith

Official headed stationery is sourced from the following locations:

• for letterheaded paper, the Papago cream paper is sourced from France and the Conqueror cream wove paper is sourced from Italy.
• paper for manilla envelopes is sourced and manufactured in Germany.
• plastic for the poly mailers is sourced and manufactured in Poland.
• cream paper for the standard envelopes is sourced from Sweden.
• white paper for the white envelopes is sourced and manufactured in Poland.

All overprinting of paper envelopes is carried out in the UK, including embossing and phosphor band print. Overprinting of letterheaded paper is carried out in the UK.

Business papers (the Order Paper, bills etc) are printed on paper which has been manufactured in Germany and France. These are bought through a UK-based paper merchant.

Under current legislation and guidance, specifying the origin of goods or services is only permitted if it is necessary to do so in order for our requirements to be understood. The legislation expressly provides that any requirement specifying the origin must allow for equivalents where these exist. Parliament endeavours to purchase British goods and support domestic supply chains where it is possible and appropriate to do so.

Question

To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, what guidance the House has issued to encourage the procurement of British-made (a) office products and (b) stationery by (i) Members and (ii) their staff.

Answered by Nick Smith

Under current legislation and guidance, specifying the origin of goods or services is only permitted if it is necessary to do so in order for the requirements to be understood. The legislation expressly provides that any requirement specifying the origin must allow for equivalents where these exist. In respect of Members and their Staff it is a decision for each individual Member and their office to determine how they use their budget to purchase office products and stationery in accordance with IPSA guidelines.

Found: Blundell (Labour; Heywood and Middleton North) Olly Glover (Liberal Democrat; Didcot and Wantage) Katie Lam

Found: environment for all”.18 The opposition reiterated its support for the provisions generally, with Katie Lam