Labour Assembly Member for Mid and West Wales JOYCE WATSON AM has praised Carmarthenshire Council for supporting more than 2,000 local businesses through local procurement events over two and a half years.
Speaking in the National Assembly for Wales during Questions to the Minister for Finance and Public Service Delivery, JOYCE WATSON AM said:
“99 per cent of all Welsh businesses are small and medium-sized enterprises, which often thrive on local trading opportunities. Therefore, public sector procurement and the links that it fosters between local government and local businesses can and do make an important contribution to the health of local economies and their communities. Therefore, would you join me in congratulating Carmarthenshire County Council on its successful procurement events and surgeries, which have supported more than 2,000 businesses since they started two and a half years ago?”
The minister agreed, praising Carmarthenshire Council for their innovative efforts to increase the use of local and Welsh companies to serve the authority. ANDREW DAVIES AM said,
“Around £4.5 billion is spent every year by the Welsh public sector in the procurement of goods and services, from stationery to significant major construction projects. We know that the economic benefits of that can be substantial. About three years ago, around one third of that expenditure was won by Welsh-based companies. The latest figures show that just under half of that expenditure, 49 per cent, was won by Welsh-based companies. We know that, for every 1 per cent of expenditure that is won by Welsh-based companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, as you pointed out, Joyce, 2,000 extra jobs are created. Clearly, it is an important tool at our disposal. I am delighted that Carmarthenshire County Council is actively seizing that opportunity.”
Speaking after the debate Labour’s Rural Affairs spokesperson Joyce Watson said,
“Small and medium-sized enterprises play a huge role in the Welsh economy, particularly in Mid and West Wales. In my previous role in local government I worked hard to increase local procurement. Having run small businesses I know how much difference a regular order from a large client such as an authority could make.”
24th June 2008
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