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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Alexandra Topping Political correspondent

Government contracts to require job creation instead of green targets under new rules

Louise Haigh walking through Manchester
The first secretary of state, Louise Haigh (left), says new rules will ensure £90bn spent annually on government contracts can help ease unemployment. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA

Ministers will scrap the requirement for companies to prove their green and progressive values before they are awarded government contracts, and instead ask firms to prove they will help young people back into work.

As part of a government push to reduce the number of people not in education, employment or training (Neets) in the UK and boost regional growth, public sector buyers will double the consideration they give to whether companies will get more people into jobs, rather than if they can show they are improving social and environmental wellbeing. Government procurement contracts account for about £90bn of taxpayers’ money spent each year.

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