Oral Question·Cabinet Office
“What steps he is taking to help support small and medium-sized businesses through reforms to public procurement.”
Tabled: 18 June 2026Answered: 25 June 2026
Asked by
Liz Twist
Labour — Blaydon and Consett
Answering Minister
the Minister for the Cabinet Office
Answer from Hansard
The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Chris Ward)
This Government are determined to ensure that public procurement backs small and medium-sized businesses. That is why we have strengthened late payment rules, have set ambitious targets for all Departments to spend more with small and medium-sized enterprises—totalling £7 billion by 2028—and are simplifying the entire system to ensure that SMEs get a fairer crack. We are working with the Federation of Small Businesses on this, and there is much more to come.