The Welsh Labour Government’s public procurement processes are unfit for purpose and failing to offer opportunities to small business, Welsh Conservatives claimed yesterday.
The Welsh Labour Government has estimated that businesses are spending “at least £20million” every year simply to meet qualification criteria before being able to submit a procurement bid.
The Institute of Directors has cited “intense frustration” with aspects of public procurement, while the CBI has said that Wales is “one of the most difficult places in the United Kingdom for public procurement.”
Andrew RT Davies AM, Leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the National Assembly, said, “The Welsh Labour Government’s own figures show that businesses are spending over £20million every year jumping through bureaucratic hoops in order to meet qualifications to bid for public sector contracts.
“At a time of economic uncertainty, small businesses need a streamlined process where they have equality of access to bid for public sector work.
“Welsh Labour Ministers should be doing more to make it easier for small businesses in Wales to share in the proceeds of public contracts, helping them to expand and ensuring they do not lose out to businesses in other parts of the UK.
“In the face of criticism from the CBI, the Institute of Directors and their own reports, Welsh Labour Ministers need to bring forward proposals to reduce the bureaucratic burden on small businesses to encourage bidding for public contracts.”
