Public Sector: Procurement
The question
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has made any assessment of the implications for UK procurement policy of senior foreign political figures holding investments in companies supplying sensitive UK public sector systems.
Answered by Chris Ward
The Government takes threats to UK national security in relation to public contracts seriously.
Under the Procurement Act 2023, contracting authorities must undertake due diligence to ensure suppliers do not pose particular risks. The Act enables the exclusion of suppliers if specific grounds apply to them or their "connected persons", which can include people who exercise significant control over them.
If a supplier or its connected person poses a threat to UK national security the supplier can be excluded or placed on a centralised debarment list.
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