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<p>Regulation 24 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 requires contracting authorities
to take appropriate measures to effectively prevent, identify and remedy conflicts
of interest arising in the conduct of procurement procedures. The Department has robust
rules and processes in place to ensure that conflicts of interest do not occur, including
declaration from suppliers, publication of ministerial interests and robust departmental
guidance.</p><p>At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the critical urgency of
the situation and requirement to protect the National Health Service and the country
led to specialist consultants and contractors being brought in at extreme pace. This
meant that some work was initiated before final contract details were put in place
or had been formally awarded. This situation has been addressed. Over 900 contracts
have been awarded by the Department and its executive agencies in response to COVID-19.
Information on the precise number of such cases has not been centrally collated by
the Department.</p>
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