3. Legislative Consent Motion on the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:57 pm on 15 May 2018.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of David Lloyd David Lloyd Plaid Cymru 3:57, 15 May 2018

Keep on listening, Chair.

Now then, in terms of public procurement, for instance, we have seen large parts of the health service in England fall into private hands already. The public procurement process there has enabled companies such as Virgin Care to run the NHS in several areas, such as Surrey, Kent, Staffordshire and Lancashire. Huge swathes of NHS services are run by Virgin Care, all in the private sector. Virgin has 400 separate NHS contracts in England, worth over £1 billion, and if UK Government decided on a similar course of action with our frozen public procurement powers here, this Assembly would be powerless to resist. Imagine: obstetrics and maternity services—[Interruption.] Just imagine—[Interruption.] No. I'm getting to it. Imagine: obstetrics and maternity services in Swansea could be outsourced to Virgin Care in future. That's what public procurement means, obviously—and doubtless called 'Virgin Birth' as a result. Our woodlands could similarly fall prey to Sir Richard Branson as well. What price for 'Virgin Forest'? Welsh Government has conceded any leverage, conceded devolved powers, and it is gambling on an inter-governmental agreement based on trust and shared governance that has no basis in legality. [Interruption.] Lee Waters.