Peredur Owen Griffiths: How is the Government ensuring there is adequate mental health support for young people in South Wales East?
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Yes.
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Yes.
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Llywydd, can we proceed to the final votes this evening? Thank you.
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Diolch yn fawr. And to close my final contribution in this, the final debate of the Stage 3 proceedings, I'd like to take the opportunity to thank all those who have assisted with the scrutiny process: Senedd clerks, lawyers, and the Plaid team, and I'd also like to pay tribute to the way in which the Minister and her officials have approached the scrutiny process, and I hope she feels better...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: The purpose of amendments 10 and 11 is to amend section 40, which sets out the information contracting authorities must include in their contracts register. The effect of these amendments is, again, as I have already mentioned in relation to those tabled about section 27, is to futureproof section 40 by adding a similar regulation-making power that will enable Ministers to amend the list of...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Yes, please.
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Please.
Peredur Owen Griffiths: I'm grateful to the Government for supporting these amendments, which will only serve to strengthen the positive outcomes of this Bill and send a clear message out about its intention. I'm particularly happy that the Government has moved on the matter of the Welsh language. Its previous position was incongruous with its policy towards the language and its goal of creating conditions for...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: There was no reference to the Welsh language on the face of the Bill, as introduced. I spoke during the committee stage on this legislation about how important it is for the Welsh language to be embedded at the heart of the public procurement framework in Wales, as one of the key social and public policy objectives that we expect this area to contribute towards. It's already Government policy...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Diolch yn fawr. We consider the annual socially responsible procurement reports to be a key mechanism to ensure that the Bill is having the desired effect in improving public procurement, both at an individual public body level, and also at a strategic national level, as the information reported on in these reports is collated and analysed by the Welsh Ministers, as per their duty under...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Please.
Peredur Owen Griffiths: I thank the Deputy Minister.
Peredur Owen Griffiths: These amendments are a positive addition to this Bill, and I propose that we move straight to the vote.
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Diolch yn fawr. The purpose of amendment is 5 to amend section 27, which deals with the social public works clauses that must be included in contracts for major construction contracts. The categories and improvements sought through this section of the legislation are intended to bring about improvements to economic, social, environmental and cultural well-being as a result of specific...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Diolch, Llywydd. If I go to Jenny first on the development of the statutory guidance and looking at locally sourced food, it's something that can be worked through. I don't quite understand the argument that Jenny was making, but I'm sure that the Minister will be working with local suppliers and local authorities to work through those things and to work within the statutory guidance within...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Diolch, Llywydd. As I've noted throughout each stage of this Bill's journey through the Senedd, I want to emphasise once again the importance of making this legislation as strong as possible when it comes to public procurement within Wales. For more than a decade, Plaid Cymru has called for ambitious yet realistic targets, quantitative measures, and clear aims to increase the value added to...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Thank you, Deputy Minister, for your comments. I would like to thank the many third sector organisations and charities that have offered views and suggestions about this area of the Bill and the real concern that their voices might not have been heard. I thank the Government for their willingness to support this amendment, which is about ensuring that the right voices are being heard...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. The purpose of this amendment is to amend section 9 of the Bill, which sets out the arrangements for the public procurement sub-group. This will add a requirement for Welsh Ministers to produce guidance to which the social partnership council must have regard when appointing members to its public procurement sub-group. In particular, that guidance must include...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Diolch, Llywydd. I thank the Deputy Minister for those reassurances. There was some anxiety in some quarters that certain groups and workers would be disenfranchised from this element of the Bill. Having heard those reassurances on the record today, I am content that any unintended consequences of this part of the Bill will not be realised. Having said that, I'm grateful for the undertaking...
