Part of 1. 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:33 pm on 20 June 2017.
First Minister, the Welsh Government’s record to date in working to ensure that Welsh firms benefit as much as possible from public procurement issued in Wales is a poor one, I think. As of early 2016, of the 130 Welsh Government corporate procurement contracts awarded since 2011 and worth more than £500,000, just 53 per cent were awarded to Welsh businesses. And nothing highlights this more than the Heads of the Valleys road project, which, despite being a capital project based in the heart of Wales, was awarded to an English-based contractor. So, going forward, what can you do to ensure that Welsh companies benefit far more from public contracts offered in Wales in order to help build the supply chain here in Wales?