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Written question asked by Bill Olner (Labour) on Wednesday, 14 January 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 19 January 2009. It was answered by Angela Eagle (Labour) on Tuesday, 3 February 2009 on behalf of the Treasury.

Business: Industrial Health and Safety

Question
To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate his Department has made of the average annual cost to small and medium-sized enterprises of applying for and proving competence in multiple health and safety pre-qualification questionnaires.
Answer

I have been asked to reply.The Glover report, 'Accelerating the SME Economic Engine', published on the HMT website in November 2008, made 12 recommendations to improve SME access to public procurement including:"““Procurers should ensure that, where they rely on a particular accreditation scheme or standard as part of the process of prequalification or contract award, that they take a flexible approach. Businesses should be given the opportunity to provide evidence that they can meet the contract requirements by reference to other similar equivalent accreditations or standards they may already hold—especially where these have been recognised or required by other public sector procurers.””"Government are currently implementing these recommendations.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
487 c1100W; 248900
Session
2008-09
Subjects
Costs Health and safety Public sector Procurement
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk