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<p>This Government recognises that outsourcing is an important component in a “mixed
economy” of public service provision and that the private sector has played a crucial
role in the country’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, including in relation to
the development and procurement of the Government’s world-leading vaccine programme.
Under the terms of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, departments and other public
authorities are able to use various applicable procedures. Public authorities across
the United Kingdom including the devolved administrations and local authorities have
made use of direct awards - this includes Leeds City Council. Similar approaches were
adopted by many other countries, including Japan, Finland and New Zealand. It is unrealistic
to suggest that the government ought to have run a full public procurement competition
for PPE and other critical contracts at the height of the pandemic. The minimum number
of days a competitive award could take place under the current rules is 25 days. This
would have hugely slowed down the buying of vital PPE supplies.</p><p>Further to the
Outsourcing Playbook, available on gov.uk, and as has been the case under successive
administrations, public sector contracting authorities are responsible for their own
commercial decisions, such as the award and monitoring of contracts. Regarding cyber
security, details of the Cyber Essentials scheme is available on gov.uk. The requested
information on service credits is not held centrally.</p><p>I note that the Hon Member
has not yet replied to the letter by my Rt Hon Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy
of Lancaster of 20 November 2020. As a courtesy, I will ensure that a further copy
of the letter is sent to her office to ensure she has a chance to reply to the points
raised.</p><p> </p>
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