Nicholas Soames: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps he has taken to improve the process of government procurement. [109409]

Francis Maude MP; Minister for the Cabinet Office [holding answer 24 May 2012]: The programme of procurement reform we have initiated is unprecedented and has already yielded billions of pounds in savings for the taxpayer, including through tighter controls.

A reformed Government Procurement Service is leading the way in letting cross Government deals which standardise requirements and leverage Government's buying power to full effect.

We have introduced a new LEAN sourcing process for central Government which aims to reduce procurement time scales by at least 40%. I have mandated that all Departments, should procure all but the most complex goods and services within 120 days using more open competitions so that new and different types of suppliers and business models can flourish. We have also removed various obstacles in the process itself such as unnecessary or over burdensome pre-qualification questionnaires.

Details of all our procurement reform can be found on the Cabinet Office website at:
http://procurement.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/