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<p>We have developed our methodology over time, starting in 2010 when there was no
reliable estimate for spend with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). We now
have much better data than before 2010 and we are continuing to improve our understanding
of spend. The Government exceeded its target of 25% of central government procurement
spend going to small and medium businesses by 2015, achieving over £12 billion (27.1%)
of spend with SMEs by the end of the last Parliament.</p><p>The Government standardised
its methodology for collecting data on direct spend with SMEs in 2011-12; data on
direct spend published since that point is comparable. Data on indirect spend for
2013-14 and 2014-15 is also comparable. This is an area of continuous improvement
and we intend to standardise our methodology again during 2016-17.</p>
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