The Welsh Conservatives’ Shadow Minister for Climate Change, Energy and Rural Affairs – Janet Finch-Saunders MS – has written to the First Minister to call for a review into current food and drink procurement practices by the public sector in Wales. Mrs Finch-Saunders believes that the current measures must be altered so as to better support Welsh producers and farmers. 

The public sector is a significant contributor to the food and drink spend in Wales, estimated at a £78 million spend for the 2015/16 financial year. According to figures released by the Auditor General for Wales, this included £53 million spent by local government; £20 million spent by health boards; £2 million spent by central government and sponsored bodies; and £2 million spent by Welsh further and higher education institutions. 

Commenting on her letter to the First Minister, Janet said:  

“The COVID-19 recovery period provides the opportunity to double down on our support for Welsh suppliers. I have written to the First Minister to call for a review into public sector procurement practices, to ensure that public money is spent on accessing more nutritious, quality food grown in Wales. 

“New measures would create greater opportunities for Welsh food and drink businesses, circulating public money where it is invested. It would be a bold signal of support for this sector, as their produce came to bolster mealtime offerings in Welsh schools, hospitals, armed forces bases and local authority buildings. 

“As things stand, the current rules work only as an unnecessary barrier which prevent local producers from winning lucrative public contracts. Just imagine the difference that an annual £78 million spend could make to the sector if that entire procurement budget was spent in Wales, on Welsh produce.  

“Implementing new procurement practices would maximise our long-term support of local businesses who provide essential employment opportunities, encourage a continued push towards high welfare standards and be a sensible, forward thinking response to the climate emergency.” 

ENDS 

Notes to Editors: 

• A copy of Janet’s letter to the First Minister can be found attached.