WIREDGOV

The Minister for Finance & Government Business has confirmed that Welsh Ministers will soon have new powers to regulate on public procurement matters further strengthening the benefits to the economy.

Public procurement has already delivered real benefits to the Welsh economy as figures published yesterday reveal that since 2012 projects worth £674m have made a real difference to communities across the country.

Community benefits are at the heart of procurement policy in Wales and since 2012 have ensured:

78 completed projects worth £674m;

84% of this expenditure retained in Wales;

800 disadvantaged people helped into employment or training; and

almost 23,000 weeks of training provided.

The new regulatory powers for Welsh Ministers are expected to come into force on 12 August and will be instrumental in helping to strengthen the adoption of the refreshed Wales Procurement Policy Statement which the Minister announced yesterday.  The first area for regulation is likely to be Community Benefits.

Since 2004, the Welsh Government’s innovative, SME-friendly procurement policy has seen spend with Wales based business increase by some 20%, from 35% to 55%.  

The refreshed Statement builds on the success to date and strengthens the principles public bodies are expected to adopt.   Public bodies will now be required to submit annual returns to the Welsh Government evidencing their engagement with the Statement and its principles such as community benefits.  

Finance Minister said yesterday:  

“Ensuring that we spend money wisely and maximising the benefit we get from the Welsh pound is the core principle of our procurement policy.  It is clear that the original Wales Procurement Policy Statement I launched in 2012 has delivered positive and lasting results.

“Our community benefits policy for example is making a significant contribution to our ambitions for creating jobs, boosting economic growth and skills. Today’s latest figures show the enormous difference this has made to the Welsh economy and local communities.

“We must build on this success and I am confident that the revised public Procurement Statement I have published today will do just that.  I am delighted that we have also secured from the UK Government new powers to regulate on public procurement matters.  These new powers will ensure our pioneering approach to procurement, in which we lead the UK, continues to deliver for Wales.”