Mark Drakeford: Can I thank Janet Finch-Saunders for that question? I think it’s important to say that the Electrical Contractors’ Association’s own research said that only seven of 22 councils use the system in full—far more of them use it for parts of what they do. So, it’s a matter of building up from what they do already to use it in even greater dimensions of their work. I understand the point...
Mark Drakeford: I thank Mike Hedges for that and, of course, I welcome feedback from the Electrical Contractors’ Association and others who have an interest in procurement here in Wales. Mike Hedges is quite right that the evidence shows that SQuID has made a positive impact on the construction sector. Prior to its introduction around 30 per cent of all contracts in Wales were won by indigenous suppliers....
Mark Drakeford: I agree with the Member, undoubtedly, that public services should not be run for private profit. That is why, in this Government, we have always believed that public services should be publicly funded and publicly delivered. Now, in very tough times, I understand that those responsible for providing services sometimes have to look for other ways in which their services can be provided. Then,...
Mark Drakeford: The supplier qualification information database makes it easier for Welsh suppliers to compete for Welsh public sector business. It is a requirement of the Wales procurement policy statement to which all local authorities are signatories.
Mark Drakeford: Well, I understand the point that the Member is making. In my discussions with trade unions earlier today, they emphasised their anxiety at the way in which, sometimes, alternative models can be seen as a first resort for the provision of public services. That’s not the position we take in Welsh Government. The action plan for alternative delivery models in public services makes it clear...
Mark Drakeford: Thanks to Suzy Davies for that question. Good local government plays a vitally important role in the lives of all citizens in Wales. Each and every one of us has a direct interest in shaping how public services are delivered.
Mark Drakeford: In answering Simon Thomas’s first supplementary question, I’ve not yet had direct discussions on the very important issue that he raises of Wales-based services that are already in a relationship with the EIB that will need to extend well beyond any exit from the European Union. Now, the EIB itself has said that it’s unable to provide any certainty on a whole range of issues in relation...
Mark Drakeford: Can I thank Eluned Morgan for a very important supplementary question there? She’s quite right that the European Investment Bank is wholly owned by its shareholders and all its shareholders are the 28 European Union member states. The United Kingdom has a 16 per cent shareholding in the EIB and is, therefore, one of the four main shareholders in the bank. And in leaving the European Union,...
Mark Drakeford: Thank you very much, Eluned Morgan. Wales has enjoyed a positive relationship with the European Investment Bank throughout the devolution era, with nearly £2 billion invested in both public and private projects, including water, aviation, the motor industry and housing.
Mark Drakeford: I thank the Member for her comments. Of course, it’s very important that we do more than simply speak here in the Chamber, so there are a number of things that I’m doing personally over the next week: I have a meeting with the WLGA on Friday—I will be speaking to them—and I have a meeting with the Muslim Council of Wales next week. It is important that we do come together in that way...
Mark Drakeford: Let me associate myself very strongly with the last thing that the Member said. I think she is right—something happened during the course of the referendum campaign that has somehow legitimised, in the minds of some people, views that are abhorrent to, I’m sure, Members in this Chamber and have no part whatsoever to play in our community life. Even prior to that, there had been a 65 per...
Mark Drakeford: I thank Joyce Watson for that question. In March this year, following extensive engagement with stakeholders, Welsh Government published its eight equality objectives for 2016 to 2020. These objectives focus on tackling the most entrenched inequalities in Wales and promoting cohesive communities.
Mark Drakeford: A draft Bill was put forward by my predecessor, which included a great deal more than simply changing boundaries on a map. It included proposals for altering local referenda. They would not have done it in the way that the Member proposed, and I don’t have any current intention to move in the direction that he advocated.
Mark Drakeford: I don’t think it would be right for me to reach conclusions this afternoon having just said that I wanted to spend a period of time listening and learning. I’ve met about half of local authorities in Wales, Llywydd, so far, so I’ve got half still to go. I’m meeting Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion tomorrow, and I want to make it clear to them that I’m just as open to...
Mark Drakeford: I thank Mr Bennett for his opening remarks and for reminding me of my own lengthy political history from 30 years ago. Local government reorganisation the last time happened while I was a councillor, just to show how far back that happened. The timetable that I’m hoping to pursue is as follows: there is a necessary period over this summer in which I want to spend my time listening and...
Mark Drakeford: Well, we certainly don’t need to wait, because as the Member said in his question, we have already begun to do just this. There are three schemes already under development, and a range of other potential schemes that could follow down the same route. So, the non-profit distribution model is a means of trying to draw into the Welsh economy ways of financing capital investment in particular,...
Mark Drakeford: Well, people who listened to the claims made by the ‘leave’ campaign during the referendum will have gone away, I believe, not thinking simply that Wales would do as well as we had done under the previous regime, but that there would be a new flow of funds into public services, and into places where it is most needed as a result of that decision. And of course as a Welsh Government we...
Mark Drakeford: I thank Adam Price for those questions. I think he makes an important point in opening about the way that patterns of voting in the referendum follow economic lines right across the United Kingdom. As far as estimating the impact on Wales of last week’s decision, there are two particular ways in which we have to assess that, one of which is easier than the other. There will be the direct...
Mark Drakeford: Again, I thank Nick Ramsay for those two important points. Members here will know that my predecessor in this post, Jane Hutt, after a great deal of negotiation, succeeded in obtaining an agreement to a funding floor from the Treasury for the length of the current comprehensive spending review period. In the fiscal framework negotiations we will be arguing hard for making sure that that...
Mark Drakeford: It’s absolutely true to say that Scotland has already been around this track in agreeing a fiscal framework to surround the devolution of tax powers to the Scottish Parliament. In many ways, we are fortunate to be following them around that track, both because the Scottish Government has been generous in sharing their experience with us and providing us with some insights into their...
