Government spent over £18m on PR in 3 years
THE Welsh Government has spent more than £18m on public relations (PR) and marketing services with privatesector firms over the last thee years.
The figures are revealed in a Freedom of Information response to the Welsh Conservatives.
Of this, £8m was spent in 2017/18, representing 44% of the three-year cost.
The cost had risen from nearly £5m (£4,969,445) in 2016/17, after falling from £5.4m in the previous 12 months.
The Welsh Government biggest spending was with Cardiff-based Smorgasbord and Golley Slater, which earned £3.2m and £2.9m, respectively, between 2015 and 2018.
While the Welsh Government has its own internal teams in areas like PR, marketing and events, it is not unusual for governments and other public-sector organisations to outsource to the private sector.
The Welsh Government has preferred supplier frameworks in a wide range of areas, including with law firms.
Some of the companies working for the Welsh Government on PR and marketing contracts would not necessarily receive the amounts stated as income, but instead use part of the government spending to buy promotional slots with media organisations to promote government campaigns.
Not all firms on the various Welsh Government frameworks, will be asked to carry out work.
The Welsh Government has recently changed the remit of its PR and marketing frameworks.
Welsh Conservative shadow finance secretary Nick Ramsay said: “It is completely understandable that governments of whatever colour need to consult with experts and use marketing services when they need to increase awareness of new policies or highlight changes to existing systems.
“But to spend over £18m in such a small time is a flagrant, selfindulgent, and arrogant waste of taxpayers’ money.
“The average Welsh person will not tolerate their taxes being used in this way.
“In this time of fiscal responsibility, the Welsh Labour Government have some cheek to complain about budget sizes and yet throw money away like this.
“In my time as chair of the Public Accounts Committee I have identified and challenged government spending and seen an alltoo familiar pattern with this Welsh Government – that they do not treat the public purse with the necessary discipline.
“A Welsh Conservative Government would change that.”
In response a Welsh Government spokesman said: “These recycled comments by Nick Ramsey remain staggeringly naïve.
“Communication with the people of Wales plays a vital role in delivering Welsh Government policies and priorities, with campaigns covering a whole host of issues including organ donation, preventing domestic violence, encouraging positive parenting and child development, improving recycling levels and promoting Wales’ place in the world.
“As with all Welsh Government procurement, we have robust procurement processes in place to ensure best use of tax-payers’ money.”
Last year Golley Slater initially lost the Welsh Government’s outsourced contract for media buying and planning of advertising campaigns.
However, following a challenge to the procurement process, the three-year contract was retendered and won by Golley Slater. Tenby’s Esplanade Hotel