Late payment (commercial transactions) Common Framework - Common Framework for Public Procurement

The Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee is considering the Late payment (commercial transactions) Common Framework and the Common Framework for Public Procurement.

Common frameworks

Following the UK’s decision to leave the European Union, the UK Government and the devolved governments in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland agreed to create common UK-wide approaches - or ‘frameworks’ - in policy areas that were governed by EU law, but that are within the competence of the devolved governments or legislatures.

Further background information about common frameworks and the Senedd’s scrutiny is available on the common frameworks webpage.

Late Payment: Provisional Common Framework

The provisional common framework on late payments was published on 16 December 2021. The Late Payment Framework is being established to enable the functioning of the UK internal market, while acknowledging policy divergence between the UK Government and devolved governments regarding late payment in commercial transactions.

Common Framework for Public Procurement

The provisional common framework for Public Procurement was published on 27 January 2022. The Framework is being established because it is considered necessary in order to achieve the following outcomes set out in the Frameworks Principles:

● enable the functioning of the UK internal market, while acknowledging policy divergence

● ensure compliance with international obligations, and

● ensure the UK can negotiate, enter into and implement new trade agreements and international treaties.

On 10 February 2022, the Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee wrote to the:

·       Minister for Finance and Local Government; and

·       Minister for Economy, to seek further information about the framework.

The Minister for Economy responded on 25 February and the Minister for Finance and Local Government responded on 1 March 2022. The Committee considered and agreed the Ministers responses.

The Committee subsequently wrote to the Minister for Economy and the Minister for Finance and Local Government on 23 June 2022 regarding their observations about the framework and the approach more generally.

The Committee has now concluded its consideration of this area of work.