Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the speech by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 25 June, when they intend to introduce a bill to amend the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 to require public contracts to be awarded for social value; and when they propose that this bill will take effect.

The government remains committed to the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 and believes it can contribute to creating a diverse public services supply market and harness wider benefits for our communities.

On 25 June, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, David Lidington announced our intention to lead by example by extending application of the Act across central government. Doing so will not require legislation. Officials from the Cabinet Office, Crown Commercial Service and Office for Civil Society, DCMS will work together to implement this policy with departments and explore further opportunities for the Act.

There are no plans for a minimum standard of social value in contracts, to give contracting authorities the flexibility to respond to the maturity of the relevant market.