LG: Will the Minister make a statement on the value of public procurement to Wales?
Janet Finch-Saunders:
Minister, in an attempt to introduce transparency to public sector procurement, the UK Government has introduced Contracts Finder, which holds whole contract documents for framework agreements awarded since January 2011, thereby showing taxpayers how their money is spent, on what, and the procurement trail. What actions are you taking to embed a similar level of transparency in the Welsh public sector through the national procurement service?
Jane Hutt:
Clearly, the launch of the national procurement service by Lesley Griffiths and me last week demonstrates a unique way forward for common and repetitive spend that will save £25 million a year from public sector contracts. It will be transparent and open, and it is the only one of its kind in the UK.