Last Modified: 29 October 2024
Response by Business Disability Forum to Cabinet Office consultation, March 2021
In March 2021, the Government proposals to bring over 350 EU-based procurement laws into a single UK regulatory framework closed. The UK Government spends around £290 billion on procurement each year. We responded to this consultation because were concerned there was not adequate consideration of disability inclusion and accessibility throughout the proposed procurement lifecycle and regulations. While commitments to social value were covered throughout the proposals, there were no requirements for contracts purchased with taxpayers’ money to be accessibly and inclusively designed so that people with disabilities and long-term conditions can use them.
Moving a legal and regulatory framework from the EU to the UK is an opportunity for the UK Government to position itself as a world leader on procuring inclusive public contracts. It is doable and it is not onerous when done effectively. We have recommended that the Government’s current proposals are reviewed again so that the Government can fulfil their ambition to “buy back better” as inclusively as possible. Anything else is not just a missed opportunity, but is also potentially discriminatory to disabled people.
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