3. Statement by the Minister for Finance and Local Government: Procurement Update

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:31 pm on 25 January 2022.

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Photo of Alun Davies Alun Davies Labour 3:31, 25 January 2022

I'm grateful to you, Presiding Officer. And I fear that I'm going to be adding to that conversation, Minister. It's profoundly disappointing that a new way of working, which was embedded, many of us felt and thought, by the statements made by yourself, by the First Minister, by the health Minister, by the economy Minister, in the midst of a crisis and a pandemic, seems to be drying up already. And if we are to make a reality of the rhetoric that we hear from Government, then that must be felt in companies such as Elite, such as those social enterprises that have kept the NHS going during the pandemic, and have supported the work of this Government. Now that support needs to continue. And we simply cannot walk away from our responsibilities and walk away from our rhetoric. We need to make sure that this actually happens. 

So, I'd be grateful, Minister, if we could ensure that the point made by Rhun ap Iorwerth, from Sir Fôn, myself from Blaenau Gwent, are conveyed to the heart of Government, and that we ensure that there is a response that maintains this policy, and which continues to ensure that these people receive the contracts, and we deliver on the promises that we as a Government have made.