This Bill is a great opportunity for us to not only spend public money better but also to support voluntary organisations, community groups and social enterprises across the country.
Chris White MP’s radical Bill to change the way that the public sector procurement works has passed its Second Reading in the House of Lords.
The Private Member’s Bill, entitled Public Services (Social Value) Bill, which White introduced in summer 2010, has received cross-party support and would see ‘social value’ instilled throughout the procurement process.
The Bill was sponsored in the House of Lords by Liberal Democrat Peer Lord Newby, and after a short debate in which all speakers expressed their support for the principles behind the Bill, it was agreed that the Bill should move forward.
Providing there are no amendments to the Bill by Peers, the legislation could be passed into law within the next month.
In a statement after the debate, White said: ‘I am delighted to see that the Bill has been given strong support in the House of Lords by all parties and that there is a desire to see it become law as soon as possible.
‘This Bill is a great opportunity for us to not only spend public money better but also to support voluntary organisations, community groups and social enterprises across the country. I hope that if we can maintain this consensus we can achieve a positive step forward for our public services and our communities.’
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