Since 2012, Plaid Cymru has continually called for increased public procurement, a policy we featured once again in our most recent manifesto. We want to increase Welsh firms' share of contracts from 52 per cent to 75 per cent of the public procurement budget. It is estimated that this would create 46,000 additional jobs and safeguard many existing jobs in the Welsh economy. That is a potential benefit that would be transformational for our local economy, our local businesses and our local communities. This Government should finally grasp the opportunity that public procurement presents, and I hope this Bill, when finalised, will do just that.

I note from the consultation responses released earlier this year that several issues of concern were raised by key partners. The Bevan Foundation raised a number of important points during their consultation response, including the need to address the wider labour market context in which the social partnership Bill will operate. This context includes the nature and supply of other jobs in the labour market, the skills and qualifications of the workforce, the UK regulatory context, and the ownership and business models of employers. Without addressing these matters, the Bevan Foundation say that the Bill will not reach its full potential.

The Bevan Foundation also call for the conditions of the social partnership to be attached to all those employers in receipt of public funds, rather than just public bodies only. They also expressed disappointment that the paper does not go into supply chains with Welsh suppliers, something that is essential if this Bill is to have the kind of transformational impact on our economy, as I mentioned earlier. The Trades Union Congress also proffered a new definition of social responsible public procurement to ensure that no workers are exploited through public funds, something this Bill should be very careful to guard against.

These are just some of the points highlighted during the consultation, so I would like to know now how much has been, to quote your statement, refined over the summer to make this legislation the strongest, the fairest and the most effective it can possibly be. Diolch yn fawr.