Chamber and committees

Colin Smyth asked about cost. Are supported businesses competitively priced, or does use of a supported business involve the authority making a decision around costs?

I have a final question that I suppose touches on some of the issues that Kevin Stewart raised with regard to bureaucracy, and touches on Gordon MacDonald’s questions about the website. Scottish Chambers of Commerce told us that artificial intelligence is a possible solution in making things more streamlined, matching contracts and making systems more efficient. Are local authorities having conversations on use of AI to improve the systems?

I welcome our second panel of witnesses. I am pleased to be joined by Gordon Beattie, who is director of national procurement at NHS National Services Scotland; Stephen Connor, who is senior procurement manager at Advanced Procurement for Universities and Colleges; and, from Scottish Water, Rob Mustard, who is director of capital investment, and Joe Rowan, who is general manager of procurement.

I will start with a general opening question. As you know, this is a short inquiry into the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014. We are interested in key changes in procurement that were achieved through the act. You could start by outlining some of the key challenges; other members will pick up on other issues.

I come to Gordon Beattie first.

The procurement reports have been mentioned. Will you remind me whether they all follow the same format? Would it be possible for an outside organisation to compare what was happening across local authorities by looking at the reports?

Lynette Robertson, will you give us your reflections on what big positive changes have come about as a result of the 2014 act, and say whether there have been any challenges?

Can anyone on the panel comment on whether there has been an increase in local procurement in their area? When the committee had a discussion about community wealth building, we heard that Fife Council has increased the share of local procurement in its purchasing, as part of a strategy. Is the position similar in your local authorities?

Melanie Mackenzie and Lynette Robertson, have your local authorities managed to increase the amount of local procurement?

In the section on the sustainable procurement duty of Aberdeenshire Council’s written submission, you made a point about the due regard obligation operating at a low level of spend, which is £50,000 for goods and £2 million for works. I do not know whether you want to say a wee bit about that.

The committee has an interest in the work that is being done to close the disability employment gap. Mention has been made of the dynamic purchasing system, but the Scottish Government has recently published guidance on a new system that puts a certain emphasis on supported businesses. That was published only in September. As local authorities, do you give consideration to supported businesses, or are you looking at ways to increase spend with supported businesses?

Does the size of the authority—Edinburgh is quite a large authority—make a difference? Is it the case that it is easier for smaller suppliers to provide to smaller authorities, but there is more bureaucracy and a bigger burden on the authority in procuring from those smaller producers?