Elin Jones: I'm really sorry, First Minister, but there are many backbenchers from at least two parties who are seeking to contribute in your place on this debate. I'd rather hear you than them—all of them. All of them. First Minister.
Elin Jones: The leader of Plaid Cymru, Adam Price.
Elin Jones: Questions now from party leaders. The leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew R.T. Davies.
Elin Jones: Good afternoon. We are ready to begin our meeting, and the first item is questions to the First Minister. The first question is from Joel James.
Elin Jones: I have selected the amendment to the motion, and I call on Janet Finch-Saunders to move amendment 1.
Elin Jones: The proposal is to note the committee's report. Does any Member object? No. The motion is therefore agreed.
Elin Jones: The next item will be the Plaid Cymru debate on the global impact of domestic consumption, and I call on Delyth Jewell to move the motion.
Elin Jones: I call now on Huw Irranca-Davies, the Chair, to reply to the debate.
Elin Jones: Well, yes, as you've outlined in your supplementary as well as the answer I gave, these are real and pressing issues for members of staff, people who work on our estate during these months, and there is worry, of course, as to what the future will hold for some. As I hope I emphasised in my answer, we are aware of this; we have discussed it as a Commission in our most recent meeting on...
Elin Jones: The Commission is committed to the well-being of its staff, and we are acutely aware that the current cost-of-living crisis will be a very real concern for many. We are also aware that it will be a deeply personal matter for some, and that they may not feel comfortable sharing that with their employer. For those reasons, we have pulled together a series of financial and practical resources...
Elin Jones: Well, I don't agree with the florid language used by the Member, but I can see that a time will come when these exact static computers that we currently have in front of us will no longer be useful. I've been looking around me as you were asking your question. Of the three Members closest to me, I can see that one is looking at the papers in front of him, one is looking at the computer screen...
Elin Jones: The use of IT by Members has transformed since the beginning of the pandemic. The Commission has continued to drive the improvements needed to accommodate different working practices. The introduction of Zoom and a web-based voting app, alongside improvements to audiovisual broadcasting and interpretation technologies, allow Members to effectively participate in Plenary, irrespective of...
Elin Jones: Yes, we've investigated a number of times over the number of contractors that we do contract out, whether in-house direct provision is preferable, both in terms of quality and cost. To date, it hasn't proved to be so; I can write to the Member with any specific analysis that was done on this particular contract. He'll have to excuse me that I can't recall it at this point, but I'm happy to...
Elin Jones: I can't answer the specific in that case; I don't have the information to hand in terms of that particular accreditation, but I'm more than willing to look at it. It's an important accreditation by the Soil Association. I'm willing to find out whether that is the case with the new contractor, and I'll write to you with that confirmation or otherwise. And if it is 'otherwise', then I will look...
Elin Jones: The qualitative evaluation criteria used for the retender of the catering services included a range of areas to meet the objectives and performance requirements of the Senedd for the service. Cost and quality evaluation was split 30:70—30 per cent for cost and 70 per cent for quality evaluation. Examples of the key qualitative evaluation criteria included, for example, how the service would...
Elin Jones: The Plaid Cymru spokesperson now, Llyr Gruffydd.
Elin Jones: Mark Isherwood, I am sorry to cut across, but we were all there when you asked these questions and had this response. If you can ask your question of today, please—and you're out of time now, but I'll allow you to ask it.
Elin Jones: Questions now from the party spokespeople. The Conservative spokesperson, first of all. Mark Isherwood.
Elin Jones: Question 2 [OQ58643] is withdrawn. Question 3—Carolyn Thomas.
Elin Jones: I thank the Deputy Minister and the Minister.
