Proposals aimed at helping more small businesses win government contracts should be prioritised in the forthcoming Budget, according to the Forum of Private Business (FPB).

As part of its submission to the 2009 Budget the FPB is urging the government to fast-track measures outlined in the Glover Review, published in November 2008.

“The review proposed to remove barriers to public procurement and is scheduled to be implemented in 2010 to stimulate the flagging economy by increasing competition for tenders and providing better value for money.

A new report published today in which the All-Party Parliamentary Small Business Group (APPSBG) said that the review’s recommendations should go further and apply to all levels of government.

Matt Goodman, FPB’s policy representative, says: “We are hopefully at the beginning of the process of opening up more government contracts to smaller businesses, and it will take time before the review’s initial recommendations bear fruit.”