Source · Select Committees · Human Rights (Joint Committee)
Recommendation 39
39
Not Addressed
Taxpayers are entitled to expect public money to be used carefully and responsibly.
Conclusion
Taxpayers are entitled to expect public money to be used carefully and responsibly. (Conclusion, Paragraph 210)
Government response summary AI-generated
The government responds by detailing the Procurement Act, coming into force in February 2025, which strengthens the exclusion regime and introduces a central debarment list in relation to modern slavery. This response addresses one specific aspect of responsible public spending rather than the general principle stated.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government · verbatim extract
Not Addressed
Government departments are responsible for their own procurement decisions, but they operate within a legislative and policy framework led by the Cabinet Office. The Procurement Act which came into force in February 2025 strengthens the exclusion regime in relation to modern slavery to prevent exploitative companies from securing government contracts. The Act also introduced a new central debarment list to further strengthen the Government’s approach to modern slavery in procurement. Suppliers can be investigated for debarment if modern slavery grounds are met and they may be placed on a central debarment list of suppliers who must or may be excluded across the whole of the public sector.
Read the full response on Parliament ↗