Reshaping Public Procurement

Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Finance and Trefnydd – in the Senedd at 1:37 pm on 20 November 2019.

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Photo of Rebecca Evans Rebecca Evans Labour 1:37, 20 November 2019

Yes, I think the example that Jenny Rathbone gave of Caerphilly is an excellent example of what can be achieved if people think imaginatively about the local opportunities. I'm really pleased that the Carmarthenshire public services board has been awarded that £100,000 to improve the procurement of local food in the area, and that's just one of 52 experimental initiatives across Wales receiving funding as part of the £4.5 million foundational economy challenge fund. But it is really important to recognise that whilst these are experimental, if they work, then I know that the Minister, Lee Waters, is extremely keen that the projects will then be scaled up to ensure that they make a difference across Wales elsewhere.

Another great example underneath the foundational economy challenge fund is Môn Shellfish, and, in partnership with Coleg Llandrillo Menai and Partneriaeth Ogwen, they are receiving £100,000 to explore creating local markets for shellfish. The Welsh Government commercial innovation team are also analysing the public sector food spend profile, and they've identified several other potential further opportunities for similar interventions, and the viability of that activity is currently being explored with public sector partners. I would be very keen to share the learning of that with Jenny Rathbone.