MEDIA RELEASE

Public procurement in Wales – statement from the Chair of the Public Accounts Committee

In response to the ‘Public Procurement in Wales’ report from the Wales Audit Office, the Chair of the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee, Nick Ramsay AM, has issued the following statement:

“The Committee has been concerned by recent examples of poor procurement practice and this report emphasises the significant amount of money spent each year by public bodies through their procurement activity.

“There are clearly opportunities to ensure better value for money, not just by avoiding obviously poor practice but also by maximising wider benefits from contracts where possible.

“Public bodies need to ensure that they have access to the commercial skills necessary to manage potentially complex procurement activity and it is concerning that, despite some investment by the Welsh Government, public bodies are still facing difficulties recruiting and retaining the skills they need.

“The Committee will be considering the findings in this report and in the separate report that the Auditor General is preparing about the National Procurement Service over the coming weeks.”

Notes to editors

The full report ‘Public Procurement in Wales’ is available from the Wales Audit Office.

More information about the Public Accounts Committee.

For more information, interviews, photo or filming requests, please contact National Assembly media relations on 0300 200 7487, or email news@assembly.wales.

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