On 14 February 2013, the Cabinet Office issued a consultation on new selection criteria for public sector contracts advertised from 1 April 2013.

Potentially this could affect the board of any company which bids for government contracts; they will need to be aware of the new rules because failure to satisfy the new measure will preclude the company from participating in the bid. General counsel, bid teams and in-house tax departments will need to work together to consider the detailed implications for their businesses.