The Government is on track to deliver its aspiration of awarding 25% of central government business to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), directly and through the supply chain. We have already substantially reformed the public procurement landscape to level the playing field for suppliers of different sizes and make things easier for all. Further measures that come into force in early 2015 to make public sector business more accessible to SMEs include:<\/p>
· Ensuring all new contract opportunities are accessible in one place;<\/p>
· Removing burdensome Pre-Qualification (PQQs) for low vale procurements and standardising PQQs for higher value contracts; and<\/p>
· Ensuring all suppliers in public sector supply chains are paid promptly.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/115", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Maude of Horsham"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Horsham"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Francis Maude"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-01-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-01-12T13:36:03.493Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "53"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-01-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Government Departments: Procurement"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of steps he has taken to facilitate small and medium-sized enterprises winning government contracts; and if he will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4246", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Iain McKenzie"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Inverclyde"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Iain McKenzie"} ], "uin" : "220098"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/172478", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Cabinet Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/172478/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Senior Community Organisers are hosted by locally rooted community organisations. These organisations had to apply to Locality (who deliver the programme on behalf of government) to host a community organiser. The application process included questions on how the organisation would support the community organiser, their understanding of community organising and the case for a community organiser in their particular area. Applications were then assessed by a panel which included representation from the Office for Civil Society and Locality.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1556", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Rob Wilson"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Reading East"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Rob Wilson"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-01-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-01-12T17:41:41.47Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "53"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-01-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Community Development"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on what criteria the locations for the Community Organiser programme were chosen.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4082", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lisa Nandy"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Wigan"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lisa Nandy"} ], "uin" : "220099"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/172479", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Cabinet Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/172479/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
As part of this Government's long-term economic plan to pay down the deficit and help the country live within its means, we have reduced the size of the Civil Service. It has shrunk by 16% since the 2010 General Election, or 21% once adjusted for Machinery of Government changes that moved staff into the Civil Service since the last General Election. This represents a significant increase in efficiency and productivity, and has helped save taxpayers £2.4bn last year alone, compared to spending in the year before the 2010 General Election.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/115", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Maude of Horsham"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Horsham"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Francis Maude"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-01-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-01-12T13:31:55.923Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "53"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-01-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Civil Servants"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Oral Answer of 7 January 2015 to the hon. Member for Southport, by what proportion the Government has reduced the size of the Civil Service before adjusting for machinery of government changes.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1448", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Meg Munn"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Sheffield, Heeley"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Meg Munn"} ], "uin" : "220057"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/172482", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Cabinet Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/172482/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The total number of registrations, along with other key figures, is available through the Charity Commission\u2019s Annual Report which is available both on its website at: http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Showcharity/RegisterOfCharities/registerhomepage.aspx<\/a> and is also in the House Library.<\/p> This holds key information of all 164,000 registered charities in England and Wales. The advanced search function allows the user to search by registration date, operating area, income band, charitable purpose and other key items.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1556", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Rob Wilson"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Reading East"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Rob Wilson"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-01-14", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-01-14T15:08:00.057Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "53"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-01-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Charities"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many new charities were established (a) in the UK and (b) in Swindon in each of the last five years.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4105", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Justin Tomlinson"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North Swindon"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Justin Tomlinson"}
], "uin" : "219998"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/172629", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/172629/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Data is not held centrally on internships offered by individual Departments; however a number of internship programmes are run centrally by Civil Service Resourcing. Details of these programmes and the targeted groups are listed online.<\/p> <\/p> https://www.gov.uk/civil-service-fast-stream-summer-diversity-internship-programme<\/a><\/p> <\/p> https://www.gov.uk/civil-service-fast-stream-early-diversity-internship-programme<\/a><\/p> <\/p> http://www.socialmobility.org.uk/programmes/residential-programmes/whitehall-residential-programme/<\/a><\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1816", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Wallace of Saltaire"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Wallace of Saltaire"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-01-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-01-12T14:41:13.103Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "53"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-01-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Government Departments: Unpaid Work"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government how many internships are offered by each government department.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4238", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Storey"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Storey"}
], "uin" : "HL3963"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/172140", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/172140/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " 817 young people took part in National Citizen Service (NCS) in North East Hertfordshire and surrounding area in 2014.<\/p> This year will again see NCS programmes taking place in every local authority across England, giving more young people the opportunity to take part in this life changing programme.<\/p> The government is committed to giving as many young people as possible the chance to take part in NCS and the significant growth of that the programme has seen so far is set to continue this year.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1556", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Rob Wilson"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Reading East"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Rob Wilson"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-01-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-01-09T11:11:39.563Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "53"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-01-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Voluntary Work: Hertfordshire"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what future plans he has for the National Citizen Service in the North East Hertfordshire constituency.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/69", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Oliver Heald"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North East Hertfordshire"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Sir Oliver Heald"}
], "uin" : "219896"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/172141", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/172141/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " All civil servants are subject to recruitment checks (including of unspent criminal records) and are subject to the provisions of the Civil Service Code. Civil servants in sensitive roles are also subject to national security vetting, which involves a wide range of checks including against Security Service and police records. Managers are expected to report concerns about staff, including for example, expressions of support for extremist views, actions or incidents. Further details of the vetting process are available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hmg-personnel-security-controls<\/a>.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/115", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Maude of Horsham"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Horsham"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Francis Maude"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-01-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-01-13T12:15:46.203Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "53"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-01-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Civil Servants: Recruitment"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps the Government takes to vet (a) applicants for and (b) holders of civil service posts in central government departments for extremist views.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4095", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Steve Barclay"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North East Cambridgeshire"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Stephen Barclay"}
], "uin" : "219823"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/172144", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/172144/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "