Reshaping Public Procurement

Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Finance and Trefnydd – in the Senedd at 1:39 pm on 20 November 2019.

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Photo of Rebecca Evans Rebecca Evans Labour 1:39, 20 November 2019

So, Welsh Government has been working really hard to try and ensure that our procurement does meet the needs and provides opportunities for businesses and suppliers in Wales. So, Wales-based suppliers now win 52 per cent of the annual £6.467 billion procurement expenditure. Clearly, we want to do much more, but I think that it is important to recognise the improvement that we've made since the baseline of 35 per cent in 2004. 

I think that we can look to Sell2Wales. They show that a number of contract awards through that site go to Welsh suppliers, and, actually, the number through that site has more than tripled since 2014-15. So, that now stands at 84 per cent compared to the baseline of 25 per cent. So, we are making some real progress in this area, but that's not to say that we're complacent. I'm working with my colleague Lee Waters on the foundational economy and looking to see what we can do through the public services boards to ensure that we procure more locally through those boards, and we hope to have more to say on this very shortly.