WRITTEN STATEMENT

BY

THE WELSH GOVERNMENT

TITLE	The Public Procurement (Agreement on Government Procurement) (Thresholds) (Amendment) Regulations 2023
DATE	27 October 2023
BY	Rebecca Evans MS, Minister for Finance and Local Government

THE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT (AGREEMENT ON GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT) (THRESHOLDS) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 2023

Policy Overview of the SI:

It is necessary for procurement legislation (detailed below) to be amended so as to effect domestic implementation of the Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) under the Public Procurement (Agreement on Government Procurement) (Thresholds) (Amendment) Regulations 2023.

The Law which is being amended:

•The Public Contracts Regulations 2015

•The Concession Contracts Regulations 2016

•The Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016

(“the Procurement Regulations”)

The purpose of the amendments

This instrument updates the public procurement reviewable financial thresholds in England, Wales and Northern Ireland which govern the procedures for the award of public contracts for goods, works and services.

The SI and accompanying Explanatory Memorandum, setting out the effect of each amendment is available here:

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2023/1117/contents/made

Any impact the SI may have on the Welsh Ministers’ executive competence

The SI has no impact on the Welsh Ministers’ executive competence.

Any impact the SI may have on the legislative competence of the Senedd

The SI has no impact on the Senedd’s legislative competence.

Why consent was given

The power to make these changes to the financial thresholds is conferred on the Minister for the Cabinet Office only.  These changes are required to ensure the UK complies with its obligations under the GPA.  We are content for the UK Government to make these Regulations in so far as they relate to an area of devolved competence.