Item 10 today is the debate on Stage 4 of the Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Bill. I call on the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership to move the motion, Hannah Blythyn.

Motion NDM8222 Hannah Blythyn

To propose that the Senedd in accordance with Standing Order 26.47:

Approves the Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Bill.

Motion moved.

To begin with, thank you to everyone for their work on this Bill—Senedd Members and many others. Thank you.

The scrutiny process for this Bill has been rigorous and challenging, which is as it should be, but it has been conducted in a productive manner throughout. I appreciate that a Bill of this nature was unlikely to secure universal support across all parties, but you have sought to reach compromise where possible and to respectfully acknowledge differences where these cannot be overcome. We've worked closely with Plaid Cymru and engaged constructively with the Equality and Social Justice Committee. I believe that the amendments that have been made to the Bill as a result of the Senedd's scrutiny have improved it. I restate my commitment to non-government parties and, of course, Members of my own back benches who have taken an active interest in this Bill, that I will continue to engage with you in a meaningful way in the coming months as we develop the supporting guidance that will be so important in bringing this legislation to life. 

A special word of thanks must go to the committee clerks, Senedd lawyers and other Commission staff for their professional and supportive approach throughout. The way in which this Bill has progressed through the scrutiny process and to the timetable agreed at the outset is a testimony to your hard work and dedication. I extend the same thanks to Welsh Government officials who have very much pulled out all the stops to get us to this point. In fact, I think they're sick of the sight of me. But, in all seriousness, I and my Cabinet colleagues recognise and appreciate your efforts.

Finally, a sincere thank you to all of our external stakeholders and partners, from those who have been on this journey from the outset and responded to our original consultation on the draft Bill, to all who contributed evidence and all who have leant us their expertise throughout the scrutiny process. I think it's fair to say that the spirit in which this legislation has been developed is in itself a model of social partnership working. We will continue to count on that support and experience in the coming months as we move on to the work needed to successfully put this legislation into practice. And there is much still to be done. There is subordinate legislation to be made, guidance and procedures to be developed, and training and support to be rolled out. I will, of course, keep Members and stakeholders updated on our implementation plan.

In closing, Dirprwy Lywydd, I thank Members and social partners once again for their co-operation, input and challenge. This is landmark legislation that puts our Welsh way of working on a more formal footing and one that'll make a real difference to the people of Wales. I urge all Members to support the Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Bill. Diolch.

Can I first of all thank the Deputy Minister for her statement? I know that she's worked very hard on getting the Bill to this point. I must also acknowledge that I'm speaking today on behalf of my group, as Joel James normally would, and I know how disappointed he is that he can't be here for the Stage 4 part of the Bill today. But I know that he wants to thank everybody who has worked really hard in getting the Bill to this point, and in particular the assistance he's received from those who have helped him scrutinise the Bill and get it to this point as well.

He's left me a lot of notes in terms of the problems, which I'm pleased to tell the Senedd that I won't go through in detail. [Laughter.] But in a nutshell, I'm afraid we can't support this Bill today, because social partnerships are a good thing—let me just start by saying that—if they happen organically to solve a problem. However, legislating for them doesn't necessarily mean that social partnerships are going to be successful and, unfortunately, we're still at a loss in terms of the problem that the Welsh Government is trying to solve and how the legislation we see today achieves it. 

A key recommendation, for example, that the Equality and Social Justice Committee mentioned was to agree headline outcomes and the key metrics that you're using to achieve them, but this is still absent from the final Bill. We've also put in amendments to the Bill that asked for a role for businesses—small, medium and large—when two thirds of employees in Wales are working for the private sector. Unfortunately, they were turned down as well, so, that is disappointing. In our minds, this Bill offers little to no improvement for the economic health of Wales and, at worst, wastes £30 million of taxpayers' money that has come from other Welsh Government budgets and will cause considerable red tape for SMEs and public bodies who just want to get on with doing the job. And so, Dirprwy Lywydd, we won't be supporting the Bill. Diolch yn fawr.

I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has worked on this Bill—everyone from the fantastic team at Plaid Cymru to committee staff, to Senedd lawyers, and not forgetting the Deputy Minister and her officials. Everyone has pulled out the stops to get this to this point in a relatively short space of time. 

I would have preferred the Bill to have included a stronger provision for increasing public procurement to boost the Welsh economy and, dare I say it, targets, but politics is often about the art of a compromise. Compromise and concessions were made to arrive at where we are today. Through collaborative work, Plaid Cymru has managed to gain concessions that strengthen this Bill and futureproof it for years to come.

We amended section 9 of the Bill to add a requirement for Welsh Ministers to produce guidance to which the social partnership council must have regard to ensure that its membership is representative of the various sectors that will be impacted by the procurement duties. The amendments to section 27 adds additional protected characteristics to the face of the Bill. Our futureproofing amendment allows this Government, or indeed any future Government, to amend the Bill, subject to the affirmative vote in the Senedd. Also, an amendment to section 42 will ensure that we have, for the first time, a consistent standard baseline of data on the impacts of public procurement on the well-being of Wales in the widest sense. I'm also pleased that this Bill is now stronger on the matter of the Welsh language and the role that public procurement has in promoting and facilitating the use of the language by businesses and organisations across Wales. 

This Bill not only shows what can be done with teamwork but also shows that Wales is on a path that is distinct from the path chosen by Westminster. Where they seek to marginalise, to suppress and to condemn, here in Wales, we will continue to work collaboratively with people and organisations to seek positive resolutions to the problems our communities face. Long may those differences continue. Diolch yn fawr.  

I call on the Deputy Minister to reply to the debate.

Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. At the risk of getting a little like the Oscars, I want to once again thank everyone for their contributions today but also throughout the process. Many of us in this Chamber and outside it will know that this is legislation that has been a long time in the making, and we've got here with a healthy dose of perseverence but also a lot of partnership working as well. It has been a real privilege to lead this legislation through the Senedd, and I would ask Members once again today to support the Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Bill. 

In accordance with Standing Order 26.50C, a recorded vote must be taken on Stage 4 motions. So, I defer voting on this motion until voting time, which is our next item. 

Voting deferred until voting time.

Unless three Members wish for the bell to be rung, I will proceed directly to voting time. No. Okay.