Procurement reform update: March 2023

Procurement Bill Update 

The Procurement Bill is in the House of Commons Committee stage, where there is further opportunity for scrutiny of the Bill. The next stage of the journey is the Report Stage, where MPs can consider further amendments.

During the Committee stage, several amendments have been agreed which affect Wales. These include:

• An amendment to the definition of a devolved Welsh authority, which makes it clear that the Welsh rules apply to such authorities if they operate or exercise functions wholly or mainly in relation to Wales.  
• An amendment to powers to make consequential provision, meaning UK government (UKG) ministers will require the consent of the Welsh Ministers (WMs) when exercising this power in relation to devolved areas.
• An amendment to ensure a Minister of the Crown seeks the consent of the WMs before commencing the Bill for Devolved Welsh authorities as defined by the Bill.

In response to these amendments, the Minister for Finance and Local Government recently laid a further supplementary legislative consent memorandum (SLCM). Rebecca Evans MS recommends consent to the core procurement elements of the Bill. The Senedd will debate the LCMs shortly. 

Transparency update 

We have recently published a Procurement reform transparency update which follows the update we issued in October.

The update provides details on the progress of both Welsh Government system changes and UK government systems delivery and suggests practical steps organisations can take to prepare for the new rules. The update also includes detail on some of the learning and development that will be available to help users through the new regime. Further detail on the UK government’s learning and development offer is available here. 

We will continue provide further updates as this work progresses. For any further information in relation these changes, please email: ProcurementReformTeam@gov.wales.