Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make it his policy to ensure that public sector, in-house, social enterprise and not-for-profit provision are given full consideration before public services are contracted out to the private sector; and if he will make a statement.

The Government believes that public service commissioners should consider all options when tendering contracts, securingbest quality service for users at the best value for taxpayers. This includes social enterprises, not-for-profit organisations and public sector mutuals.

We have provided support through the £10 million Mutuals Support Programme, another £10 million through the Investment and Contract Readiness Fund, and also established a programme of ‘commercial masterclasses' on the skills needed to win public sector contracts.