Every parliamentary written question tabled by Joe Robertson this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 601–620 of 913 · this parliament
What proportion of public transport procurement projects contracted by her Department since 5 July 2024 have included net zero requirements; and if she will make an estimate of the total extra cost as a result of including those requirements.
The Department for Transport does not record the net-zero requirements included in procurement projects contracted.
Pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2025 to Question 34448 on Ministers: Helicopters, how many journeys this figure relates to; and whether this cost was the total cost of the journeys or a pro-rata cost for Ministers as part of a wider group.
The figure provided relates to three helicopter journeys undertaken by Defence Ministers since 4 July 2024. It covers the costs captured for helicopter use for those journeys.
Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of digital terrestrial television on rural connectivity.
DCMS is currently undertaking a project to evaluate the future distribution of television as the sector continues to evolve over the next decade. As part of this project, the Government published independent research led by Exeter University last year that included data on the use of different distribution methods by a range of different demographic groups, which included rural communities. The Government has also commissioned follow up qualitative research to understand in more detail the specific preferences, motivations and barriers regarding TV viewing among a variety of groups including rural households. A wide range of views are being sought from across the TV sector, audience groups and infrastructure through the Stakeholder Forum. This includes a number of groups representing rural and UK-wide audiences, such as the Rural Services Network.
Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to ensure that her Department’s Future of TV Distribution Stakeholder Forum takes account of the needs of rural communities.
DCMS is currently undertaking a project to evaluate the future distribution of television as the sector continues to evolve over the next decade. As part of this project, the Government published independent research led by Exeter University last year that included data on the use of different distribution methods by a range of different demographic groups, which included rural communities. The Government has also commissioned follow up qualitative research to understand in more detail the specific preferences, motivations and barriers regarding TV viewing among a variety of groups including rural households. A wide range of views are being sought from across the TV sector, audience groups and infrastructure through the Stakeholder Forum. This includes a number of groups representing rural and UK-wide audiences, such as the Rural Services Network.
Pursuant to the Answer of 5 March 2025 to Question 34447 on Military Aircraft: Helicopters, which suppliers supply helicopter services under the Ministerial Air Transport administered contract.
I refer the honourable member to the answer given on 18 March 2025 in response to question 36675.
With reference to the National Procurement Policy Statement on 13 February 2025, what discussions his Department has had with representatives of small-to-medium sized enterprises on the potential impact of the (a) National Procurement Policy Statement and (b) Employment Rights Bill on the administration of businesses.
The National Procurement Policy Statement supports Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSEs), giving them greater opportunities to win public contracts by instructing contracting authorities to maximise their spend with these organisations. We are clear that we want public contracts to deliver value for money in procurement through stronger expectations around commercial capability and contract management. The NPPS asks contracting authorities to ensure they have the appropriate procurement and contract management skills and capability necessary to deliver public contracts and encourages the use of collaborative procurement frameworks, where appropriate, to deliver value for money. To support this, a new online register of commercial agreements will increase visibility of frameworks and fees, curbing excessive profits. The Cabinet Office undertook a programme of stakeholder engagement to inform the development of the NPPS. This included an online survey which received over 436 responses and a series of roundtables with key stakeholders from contracting authorities, businesses and civil society. I have met with the Federation of Small Businesses, Enterprise Nation and a large number of SMEs across various sectors to discuss how the government can continue to break down barriers to procurement opportunities through the new procurement regime, supporting jobs and growth across the country. To support implementation of the Procurement Act, the Government has provided a programme of free training to procurement teams on its provisions and flexibilities. Additionally, the Government hosted a series of supplier webinars and published instructional videos and user-manuals, aimed specifically for suppliers, to help them understand the key changes including how to use the new central digital platform - working with trade associations and other business representative organisations to help distribute the materials. The Department for Business and Trade leads on the Employment Rights Bill. Impact assessments undertaken for the Employment Rights Bill can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments.
How many public contracts awarded by his Department since 5 July 2024 have required suppliers to recognise trade unions as a condition of contract award.
I refer the member for Isle of Wight East to the answer I provided to UIN 34002 on 4 March 2025.
What assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues on the potential impact of the (a) updated National Procurement Policy Statement and (b) Employment Rights Bill on the capacity of small and medium enterprises to (i) bid for and (ii) undertake public contracts.
The National Procurement Policy Statement supports Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSEs), giving them greater opportunities to win public contracts by instructing contracting authorities to maximise their spend with these organisations. We are clear that we want public contracts to deliver value for money in procurement through stronger expectations around commercial capability and contract management. The NPPS asks contracting authorities to ensure they have the appropriate procurement and contract management skills and capability necessary to deliver public contracts and encourages the use of collaborative procurement frameworks, where appropriate, to deliver value for money. To support this, a new online register of commercial agreements will increase visibility of frameworks and fees, curbing excessive profits. The Cabinet Office undertook a programme of stakeholder engagement to inform the development of the NPPS. This included an online survey which received over 436 responses and a series of roundtables with key stakeholders from contracting authorities, businesses and civil society. I have met with the Federation of Small Businesses, Enterprise Nation and a large number of SMEs across various sectors to discuss how the government can continue to break down barriers to procurement opportunities through the new procurement regime, supporting jobs and growth across the country. To support implementation of the Procurement Act, the Government has provided a programme of free training to procurement teams on its provisions and flexibilities. Additionally, the Government hosted a series of supplier webinars and published instructional videos and user-manuals, aimed specifically for suppliers, to help them understand the key changes including how to use the new central digital platform - working with trade associations and other business representative organisations to help distribute the materials. The Department for Business and Trade leads on the Employment Rights Bill. Impact assessments undertaken for the Employment Rights Bill can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments.
What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of net zero requirements on the competitiveness of British manufacturers in public procurement.
The transition to net zero is critical for driving growth and delivering new jobs. This government has been clear that decarbonisation should not mean deindustrialisation. This government is working with business, including through the Industrial Strategy (IS) to secure growth, including in sectors that will help us meet our Net Zero ambitions such as in Clean Energy Industries and Advanced Manufacturing. As set out in the Industrial Strategy Green Paper published in November 2024, the forthcoming IS will support growth that is aligned with our net zero and environmental objectives by capturing the growth opportunities of the clean energy mission and net zero transition; identifying and supporting clean energy sectors with the greatest growth potential; and aligning sector plans with net zero and environmental objectives.
What proportion of procurement training for Cabinet Office officials has been delivered by organisations affiliated with trade unions since 5 July 2024.
Information on supplier organisations’ affiliations with trade unions is not held.
How many and what proportion of public sector projects contracted by his Department have had cost overruns due to mandatory net zero requirements since 5 July 2024.
This information is not held centrally.
How many infrastructure contracts awarded by her Department have included mandatory collective bargaining clauses since 5 July 2024.
There are no infrastructure contracts awarded by the Department since 5 July 2024 that have included mandatory collective bargaining clauses.
If he will take steps to introduce a feedback mechanism for small-to-medium sized businesses to report issues relating to the (a) National Procurement Policy Statement procurement criteria and (b) obligations for employers in the Employment Rights Bill.
The National Procurement Policy Statement supports Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSEs), giving them greater opportunities to win public contracts by instructing contracting authorities to maximise their spend with these organisations. We are clear that we want public contracts to deliver value for money in procurement through stronger expectations around commercial capability and contract management. The NPPS asks contracting authorities to ensure they have the appropriate procurement and contract management skills and capability necessary to deliver public contracts and encourages the use of collaborative procurement frameworks, where appropriate, to deliver value for money. To support this, a new online register of commercial agreements will increase visibility of frameworks and fees, curbing excessive profits. The Cabinet Office undertook a programme of stakeholder engagement to inform the development of the NPPS. This included an online survey which received over 436 responses and a series of roundtables with key stakeholders from contracting authorities, businesses and civil society. I have met with the Federation of Small Businesses, Enterprise Nation and a large number of SMEs across various sectors to discuss how the government can continue to break down barriers to procurement opportunities through the new procurement regime, supporting jobs and growth across the country. To support implementation of the Procurement Act, the Government has provided a programme of free training to procurement teams on its provisions and flexibilities. Additionally, the Government hosted a series of supplier webinars and published instructional videos and user-manuals, aimed specifically for suppliers, to help them understand the key changes including how to use the new central digital platform - working with trade associations and other business representative organisations to help distribute the materials. The Department for Business and Trade leads on the Employment Rights Bill. Impact assessments undertaken for the Employment Rights Bill can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments.
With reference to the National Procurement Policy Statement, published on 13 February 2025, what steps he is taking to monitor the potential impact of the (a) National Procurement Policy Statement and (b) Employment Rights Bill on small-to-medium-sized business participation in public procurement.
The National Procurement Policy Statement supports Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSEs), giving them greater opportunities to win public contracts by instructing contracting authorities to maximise their spend with these organisations. As part of this I have met with the Federation of Small Businesses, Enterprise Nation and a large number of SMEs across various sectors to discuss how the government can continue to break down barriers to procurement opportunities through the new procurement regime, supporting jobs and growth across the country. To support implementation of the NPPS in central government, we have announced new rules requiring all government departments and their executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies to set three-year targets for direct spend with SMEs from 1 April 2025, and from 1 April 2026 for VCSEs, and publish progress annually. This will drive greater transparency and accountability for increasing numbers of SMEs and VCSEs delivering public contracts, supporting local economic growth and innovation and creating jobs in local communities up and down the country. To support implementation of the Procurement Act, the Government has provided a programme of free training to procurement teams on its provisions and flexibilities. Additionally, the Government hosted a series of supplier webinars and published instructional videos and user-manuals, aimed specifically for suppliers, to help them understand the key changes including how to use the new central digital platform - working with trade associations and other business representative organisations to help distribute the materials. The Department for Business and Trade leads on the Employment Rights Bill. Impact assessments undertaken for the Employment Rights Bill can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments.
How many procurement contracts awarded by his Department have been awarded without competitive tendering since 5 July 2024.
It is Cabinet Office policy to publish contracts with a value of over £10,000 on Contracts Finder within 30 days of contract award. The Contract Notices published on Contracts Finder between 5 July 2024 and the present date include information on Procedure type, which will allow the requestor to determine how many contracts above £10,000 have been awarded by Cabinet Office without the use of competitive tendering. Identifying the number of procurement contracts since 5 July 2024 that are under the value of £10,000 and awarded without competitive tendering would incur a disproportionate cost to the department.
How many public contracts awarded by the Crown Commercial Service have included mandatory commitments to publish suppliers’ gender and ethnicity pay gaps since 5 July 2024.
I refer the honourable member to the answer given on 3 March 2025 in response to question 34005.
How many suppliers have been excluded from public contracts for failing to meet environmental procurement criteria since 5 July 2024.
For contracts awarded under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, which was established by the previous government, exclusions information is not collated centrally. However, the Procurement Act 2023 (which came into effect on 24 February 2025) introduces a new requirement on contracting authorities to notify an appropriate authority where a supplier has been excluded. To date, there has not been a notification of exclusion under the environmental misconduct grounds.
What proportion of procurement training for his Department has been delivered by organisations affiliated with trade unions since 5 July 2024.
Information on supplier organisations’ affiliations with trade unions is not held.
Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has adopted trade union representation requirements in procurement processes since July 2024.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 33868 on 3 March 2025.
How many public contracts awarded by his Department have been awarded to companies with offshore tax arrangements since 5 July 2024.
From 1 April 2013, suppliers bidding for contracts over £5million must provide details about its tax returns, including whether tax returns submitted on or after 1 October 2012 have given rise to a criminal conviction for tax related offences which is unspent, or to a civil penalty for fraud or evasion. The Cabinet Office does not keep records of the tax status of successful suppliers.