Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many suppliers have reported within the Crown Commercial Service Mystery Shopper scheme evidence of (a) instances of late or unfair payment and (b) other poor procurement practice in public sector contracts; how many suppliers have been investigated as a result of the Mystery Shopper scheme; and what the outcomes of those investigations have been.

The Mystery Shopper service, introduced in 2011, allows suppliers to report poor procurement practice. Nearly 1500 cases have been received to date and, of the total cases closed during 2017-18, 99% resulted in positive change. Statutory powers introduced in March 2015 now require contracting authorities to co-operate with the service.

Lists of issues raised and the results of cases investigated so far under the Mystery Shopper scheme are published regularly on Gov.UK at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/mystery-shopper-results