7. How does the Welsh Government ensure appropriate work conditions in private companies that provide services on behalf of local government? OAQ54471

Fair working practices should be the norm across both the public and private sectors. While local authorities are responsible for their contracts, we have been working with them through the code of practice on ethical employment in supply chains and the two-tier code to remove unfair working practices.

Thank you for that reply. As you will know, Neath Port Talbot council—as did many other councils at the time—they spun off their leisure services to Celtic Leisure, and many of us warned at the time that eventually working conditions would spiral because of that. What we've seen recently, therefore, is Celtic Leisure saying that, if people don't agree to changes in their terms and conditions, they will be sacked and re-employed on weaker conditions. Now, this is something that we should all be appalled at and I know that Unison has said that it will take strike action. Neath Port Talbot council gave £1.5 million to Celtic Leisure to prop up their services in the local community. What are you going to do as the Welsh Government to say this is unacceptable, this doesn't go in line with the ethics, and to support the trade union in that particular area?  

I thank the Member for her question. I'm aware of this particular—. I'm aware of what you refer to, and my understanding is that the proposal has now been withdrawn and that negotiations are ongoing with the trade unions, and I would encourage those negotiations to continue, particularly with Unison, representing the workforce there. Clearly, as set out within our code of practice on ethical employment, we would expect to level up, not to level down, in these aspects. That is something that, clearly, as chair of the workforce partnership council, I will be discussing in further detail with members there to ensure that we make sure that code of employment is implemented and enforced right across local government, moving forward.

Thank you very much, Deputy Minister.