Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:09 pm on 25 January 2022.
I welcome this statement and hope we can later on this year have a Government debate on procurement. Procurement is one of the most important and powerful levers the Welsh Government can use to help achieve economic growth. Sustainable economic growth, fair work, decarbonisation and supporting the local economy can all benefit from a progressive procurement strategy. The Welsh public sector, including Welsh Government, health boards and Welsh Government sponsored bodies, together with local government, housing associations, colleges and universities, are major purchasers of goods and services. We have seen what Preston achieved in one city; just think what could be achieved within one nation, as in Wales. Will the Welsh Government make fair work a prerequisite for tendering for Welsh public sector contracts? Will the Welsh Government ensure that any firm that engages in fire and rehire will not be eligible to tender for Welsh public sector contracts? And will the Welsh Government look to reduce the size of the contracts to increase the number of local companies that can tender? Far too often we see the main contract going to someone in England or in Europe and then the subcontracts going to companies in Wales, and far too much of the profit then goes to England and Europe and doesn't stay in Wales.