2. Business Statement and Announcement

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:30 pm on 2 November 2021.

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Photo of Mike Hedges Mike Hedges Labour 2:30, 2 November 2021

I'm asking for one statement and one Government debate. I'm requesting a statement on procurement to increase the amount bought from locally based companies. The Welsh Government, and the Welsh Government funded public sector are major purchasers of goods and services. If you add universities, the third sector and social landlords, it becomes a very large purchaser. I'm asking for a statement to include an overall procurement strategy, including work with other bodies, and progress on reducing the size of contracts. Too many contracts are of such a size that local firms cannot bid. 

I'm asking for a debate led by the Welsh Government on the Welsh Government's economic strategy. Since the founding of the Welsh Development Agency, there's been a strategy of attracting inward investment. I have heard Ministers say that we offer more than anywhere else. If you have to do that, they do not want to come and are liable to leave with few providing the number of jobs initially promised. I'd like to see a debate on an economic strategy based on developing local ideas and companies, summed up as, 'More Admiral insurance and fewer LGs and Bosch'.