There is no requirement on local authorities to measure small business access to local authority procurement. As independent contracting authorities, local authorities are responsible for taking their own procurement decisions. While authorities are subject to the requirements of legislation and should have regard to a combination of economy, efficiency and effectiveness, I would strongly encourage councils to consider how the can use their procurement activity to support the local economy and small businesses.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4483", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Rishi Sunak"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Richmond (Yorks)"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Rishi Sunak"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-05-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-05-15T16:16:21.107Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "7"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-05-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Local Government: Procurement"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what requirements there are for local authorities to measure small business access to local authority procurement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4124", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Chi Onwurah"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Newcastle upon Tyne Central"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Chi Onwurah"} ], "uin" : "142844"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/896526", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/896526/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Local Government Transparency Code 2015 already sets out what procurement and spend information local authorities should publish and the format in which it should be published to ensure transparency and comparability across authorities.<\/p>
I am aware some councils publish on open data hubs to enable comparability and I welcome this.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4483", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Rishi Sunak"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Richmond (Yorks)"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Rishi Sunak"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-05-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-05-09T16:49:59.497Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "7"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-05-02", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Local Government: Procurement"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will take steps to improve the transparency and comparability of local authority records on procurement spending with small businesses.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4122", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alex Cunningham"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Stockton North"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Alex Cunningham"} ], "uin" : "140717"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/806741", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Cabinet Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/806741/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has published a Screening for Cartels tool that will help public procurement professionals identify suspicious behaviour by suppliers when bidding for contracts:<\/p>
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/screening-for-cartels-tool-for-procurers<\/a><\/p> The CMA has also produced other guidance on bid-rigging to help procurers, including an e-learning module that gives pointers on what to look out for:<\/p> https://builtintelligence.com/pages/learn-how-to-spot-bid-rigging<\/a><\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/57", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Young of Cookham"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Young of Cookham"}
, "attachment" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/806741/answer/attachment/1", "fileName" : {"_value" : "Screening for cartel tools gds statement.pdf"}
, "title" : "Screening for Cartels tool"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-12-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-12-19T14:04:35.947Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "53"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-12-14", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Local Government: Procurement"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to help local authorities detect procurement bid rigging in contracts for which they are responsible.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4303", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Kennedy of Cradley"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness Kennedy of Cradley"}
], "uin" : "HL4201"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/794382", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Communities and Local Government"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/794382/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Department for Communities and Local Government does not collect data on the amount or proportion of local government procurement going to companies registered in England.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4024", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Marcus Jones"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Nuneaton"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Marcus Jones"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-11-28", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "115359"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-11-28T17:24:41.417Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "7"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Communities and Local Government"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Communities and Local Government"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-11-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Local Government: Procurement"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what proportion of local authority cash spend in England on (a) general goods and services, (b) social care and (c) construction works was won by firms registered in England in the last 12 months for which figures are available.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1545", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for David T C Davies"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Monmouth"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "David T. C. Davies"}
], "uin" : "115355"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/794386", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Communities and Local Government"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/794386/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Department for Communities and Local Government does not collect data on the amount or proportion of local government procurement going to companies registered in England.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4024", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Marcus Jones"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Nuneaton"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Marcus Jones"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-11-28", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "115355"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-11-28T17:24:41.357Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "7"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Communities and Local Government"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Communities and Local Government"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-11-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Local Government: Procurement"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what proportion of capital contacts worth more than (a) £100,000, (b) £250,000, (c) £500,000 and (d) £1 million was won by firms registered in England in the last 12 months for which figures are available.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1545", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for David T C Davies"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Monmouth"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "David T. C. Davies"}
], "uin" : "115359"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/767418", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Communities and Local Government"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/767418/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Local authorities contemplating the use of their compulsory purchase powers to acquire land and properties should consider, amongst other things, whether there is a compelling case in the public interest for doing so. They should also take account of government's guidance on the compulsory purchase process, which was published in October 2015.<\/p> The Local Government Act 1999 (Part 1, Section 3) requires an authority to carry out the functions designated to it in accordance with the \u2018best value duty\u2019. This requires that "A best value authority must make arrangements to secure continuous improvement in the way in which its functions are exercised, having regard to a combination of economy, efficiency and effectiveness\u201d. The duty applies to the full range of an authority\u2019s activities.<\/p> Local authorities have the freedom to borrow and invest, including in land and property purchases, without government consent, provided that their borrowing is affordable. Control is exercised through four statutory codes that local authorities are required to have regard to, two prepared by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) and two prepared by DCLG. This framework is known as the \u201cPrudential System\u201d. We are currently working with CIPFA to revise the statutory codes and guidance and the intention is for these to be in place early in 2018.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4014", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Reading West"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Alok Sharma"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-10-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-10-17T17:05:33.59Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "7"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Communities and Local Government"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Communities and Local Government"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-10-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Local Government: Procurement"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what criteria local authorities must consider when deciding to purchase private land and properties.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1538", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Rosie Cooper"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "West Lancashire"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Rosie Cooper"}
], "uin" : "106527"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/690226", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Communities and Local Government"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/690226/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Government and the Local Government Association are working together to improve local government procurement.<\/p> This work is supported by the Local Government Association\u2019s National Procurement Strategy and its National Advisory Group for Local Government Procurement.<\/p> The National Advisory Group is looking specifically at how to improve innovation in procurement.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4024", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Marcus Jones"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Nuneaton"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Marcus Jones"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-02-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-02-27T17:29:25.073Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "7"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Communities and Local Government"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Communities and Local Government"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-02-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Local Government: Procurement"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to encourage innovation in local government procurement practices.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1408", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Swire"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Devon"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Sir Hugo Swire"}
], "uin" : "63982"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/641190", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Communities and Local Government"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/641190/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " In January 2013, government published guidance setting out how the public sector should meet the legal requirements of the Public Sector Equality Duty, under section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 when conducting public procurement activities: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-policy-note-01-13-public-sector-equality-duty<\/a><\/p> <\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4024", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Marcus Jones"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Nuneaton"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Marcus Jones"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2016-11-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2016-11-24T16:57:31.617Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "7"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Communities and Local Government"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Communities and Local Government"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2016-11-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Local Government: Procurement"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he has taken to ensure that local authorities in London promote diversity and equality in their procurement strategies.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/150", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ms Harriet Harman"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Camberwell and Peckham"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Ms Harriet Harman"}
], "uin" : "53906"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/632779", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Culture, Media and Sport"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/632779/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " In 2014/2015, Lord Young conducted a review of the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012. The scope included local government.<\/p> <\/p>