Commons support for MP’s ‘Big Society’ bill

Fellow MPs voted to progress the newly elected Conservative’s Private Member’s Bill after its second reading in the House of Commons last Friday.

Mr White prepared his Public Services (Social Enterprise and Social Value) Bill after being randomly selected for the chance to draft and present legislation.

If made law it would ensure that public services take into account the ‘social’ value of bids when commissioning goods and services from voluntary and social enterprises such as Action 21 or Bath Place Community Venture.

He told the house the bill would cost £41,000 to enact, adding: “While I recognise we’re facing very difficult challenges I believe this is something we can and should afford.”

In a four-hour debate the bill drew support from former Labour minister Hazel Blears MP (Salford and Eccles), who called it “a small bill with a big intent”.

There was scepticism from some Tories. Christopher Chope MP (Christchurch) drew attention to concerns from the Federation of Small Businesses about competition, and Steven Baker MP (Wycombe) questioned how state power could be used to intervene in social co-operation.

But Conservatives Nadhim Zahawi (Stratford) and Dan Byles (North Warwickshire) supported the bill and Government minister Nick Hurd told the house that while the Government would seek some amendments, it was happy for the Bill to go ahead.