Consultation display

The Health Service Procurement (Wales) Bill has been referred to the Health and Social Care Committee for Stage 1 scrutiny of the general principles of the Bill.

If passed, the Bill will enable changes to the way in which NHS Wales procures healthcare services. The Bill itself does not introduce a new procurement regime; it includes regulation and guidance-making powers for Welsh Ministers to set out a new regime in subordinate legislation. The Welsh Government’s stated intention is to enable health bodies and local authorities to take advantage of opportunities for using procurement processes to better support the sector in Wales, and address inconsistencies with changes in health service procurement regimes that are being proposed in England.

The Committee is seeking views on the general principles of the Bill and the need for legislation to deliver the stated policy intention.

In particular, the Committee is seeking views about:

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>>> The general principles of the Health Service Procurement (Wales) Bill, including the need for legislation to deliver the stated policy intention.

>>> The regulation-making power in the Bill to enable the Welsh Ministers to disapply the provisions of the UK Government’s Procurement Bill (once passed) that would otherwise apply to the procurement of health services in Wales.

>>> The regulation-making power in the Bill to enable Welsh Ministers to develop and implement a new procurement regime for health services in Wales through subordinate legislation.

>>> Any potential barriers to the implementation of the Bill’s provisions, and whether the Bill and accompanying Explanatory Memorandum and Regulatory Impact Assessment take adequate account of them.

>>> Whether there are any unintended consequences arising from the Bill.

>>> The Welsh Government’s assessment of the financial and other impacts of the Bill as set out in Part 2 of the Explanatory Memorandum.

>>> The approach taken by the Welsh Government to the development of the policy and legislative proposals reflected in the Bill, including the approach to engaging and consulting with stakeholders.

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We would like you to submit your views using this online form.

A downloadable template is available for you to draft your response before submitting it. However, please do not submit your consultation response on that template via email. All responses should be submitted via the online form.

The closing date for completing the form is 17:00 on Wednesday 15 March 2023.

We recognise that the timescales are tight. This deadline has been set to enable written submissions to be taken into account when the Committee takes oral evidence from the Minister for Health and Social Services.

We would encourage you to keep your response brief and focused on the key points you would like to draw to the Committee’s attention.

We want to make sure that our work is informed by experiences, needs, and views that reflect the diversity of the people and communities affected by these issues.

We encourage anyone with expertise or experience of these issues to share your views, with the full knowledge that your views will be welcomed and valued.

Providing Written Evidence

The Senedd has two official languages, Welsh and English.

In line with the Senedd’s Official Languages Scheme, the Committee welcomes contributions in both or either of our official languages, and we ask organisations that are subject to Welsh Language standards or schemes to respond in line with their own obligations. Please inform the Committee when submitting responses if you intend to provide a translation at a later date.

Please see guidance for those providing evidence for committees.

Disclosure of information

Please ensure that you have considered the Senedd’s policy on disclosure of information before submitting information to the Committee.