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

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department has issued guidance to local authorities on whether public service contracts of under £100,000 may be issued on a short-term, temporary basis when there is a gap in services.

Local authorities are bound by the Public Contract Regulations 2015 which encourages free and open competition and value for money and they are also encouraged to follow guidance from the Cabinet Office on these matters such as the Sourcing Playbook.