Sections 30 and 31 - Social public works clauses: Welsh Ministers’ response and contracts
81.Where the Welsh Ministers receive a notification from a contracting authority under section 29 this section sets out the steps required of the Ministers.
82.Where the Welsh Ministers receive a notification, they are required under subsection (1) to publish a summary of it and they must consider whether they are satisfied with the reasons given in the notification. In doing so, they may under subsection (3) consult the authority and may, by notice, require documents or other information from a contracting authority (both of which they must do as soon as reasonably practicable (see subsection (7)), in the event of which that documentation or information must also be provided as soon as reasonably practicable. The Welsh Ministers may also consult with the public procurement subgroup.
83.In the event of being satisfied with the authority’s reasons set out in the notification, the Welsh Ministers must publish a summary of their reasons for being satisfied. In the event of not being satisfied they may direct the contracting authority to take all reasonable steps to include social public works clauses in the major construction contract or in sub-contracts, and to put processes in place to ensure they are implemented. must publish any directions.
84.Subsection (6) provides that where they are not satisfied but do not issue directions, the Welsh Ministers must inform that SPC and must publish their reasons for not being satisfied and not issuing a direction.
85.Subsection (9) provides that the Welsh Ministers are not required to publish any information which would be exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
86.Section 31 makes provision for contracts let by the Welsh Ministers. They must publish a statement as soon as reasonably practicable if they do not intend to include social public works clauses in a major construction contract, including their taking reasonable steps to include them, they are not contained in a contract, or there is no process in place to manage their implementation, giving reasons.
