Peers to quiz Government spending watchdog on pandemic procurement
Since the start of the of the COVID-19 pandemic the National Audit Office (NAO) has published several reports on public procurement
Meeting details
At 3:15pm: Oral evidence
Work
Procurement and public services (Non-inquiry session)
At 4:15pm: Oral evidence
Work
Procurement and public services (Non-inquiry session)
Today the Public Services Committee hears from the NAO, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and representatives from Lloyds Bank Foundation and Children England . The Committee will discuss procurement and public services and what those awarding public contracts will need to do in future to avoid mistakes made during the pandemic.
Possible questions
- What lessons should the Government learn about emergency procurement?
- Is existing procurement law and policy adequate for contracting in times of crisis?
- Has transparency in public procurement increased or decreased during the coronavirus pandemic?
- How can procurement procedures encourage those delivering public services to innovate?
- Do proposals in the Government’s Procurement Green Paper allow for the same flexibility seen during the pandemic?
- Do the proposals take full advantage of the UK’s greater freedom to favour local public service providers and prioritise social value in commissioning and procurement?
- Are the ambitions of the Green Paper at risk of being hindered by funding pressures on local government?
- How much is the future viability of small charities and local social enterprises which specialise in delivering public services dependent on a shift towards a grant model of funding?