<p>Small and Medium-sized Enterprises</p>

Part of 1. 1. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure – in the Senedd at 1:52 pm on 13 July 2016.

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Photo of Nick Ramsay Nick Ramsay Conservative 1:52, 13 July 2016

Cabinet Secretary, can you update us on the ability of Welsh SMEs to take part in projects procured by the Welsh Government? I had a discussion in relation to this with NPS engineering consultants, an engineering firm based in Chepstow in my constituency, just before the election. That firm had, worryingly, given up on trying to procure Welsh Government contracts, because, despite the clarity of the process, which they did actually commend the Welsh Government on, there wasn’t sufficient weighting given to locally grown Welsh firms. As a result, the larger firms are undercutting them and getting contracts, even though the smaller firms think that, in the longer term, those contracts will be more expensive. The local firm in question has no problem procuring contracts across the border, from Hereford and Worcestershire councils, for instance. This can’t be right. Is there some way you can look, along with the Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary with responsibility for procurement, at ways that we can create a more level playing field so that Welsh SMEs, indigenous businesses, find it easier to complete?