12 Mehefin 2024 , Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Sesiwn Dystiolaeth: Local Partnerships LLP
Did you catch that or—?
12 Mehefin 2024 , Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Sesiwn Dystiolaeth: Local Partnerships LLP
There is a bad connection, yes, I'm afraid.
12 Mehefin 2024 , Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Sesiwn Dystiolaeth: Local Partnerships LLP
Sorry, you're breaking up a bit, Rhianon. Could you try sitting nearer to the microphone?
12 Mehefin 2024 , Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Sesiwn Dystiolaeth: Local Partnerships LLP
Sorry, Adam, I'll just bring in Rhianon Passmore for a moment—she has a supplementary—and then I'll bring you back in.
12 Mehefin 2024 , Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Sesiwn Dystiolaeth: Local Partnerships LLP
Thank you.
12 Mehefin 2024 , Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Sesiwn Dystiolaeth: Local Partnerships LLP
Can I just intervene at that point and just clarify in terms of that in-built surplus, because it's not profit, as such, because it's a non-profit body? Does that reflect any mandatory requirement to achieve risk ratios or certain reserve ratios or otherwise…
12 Mehefin 2024 , Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Sesiwn Dystiolaeth: Local Partnerships LLP
Okay, thank you. So, if I can bring in Adam Price, please.
12 Mehefin 2024 , Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Sesiwn Dystiolaeth: Local Partnerships LLP
So, it was essentially focused on ensuring diversity.
12 Mehefin 2024 , Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Sesiwn Dystiolaeth: Local Partnerships LLP
I'd be grateful if you could because, obviously, we're now aware that that decision was taken in 2018 and it's only recently that this committee has become aware of that, because of the diligence of one of our members, who may refer to this later. So, yes, I…
12 Mehefin 2024 , Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Sesiwn Dystiolaeth: Local Partnerships LLP
Okay, thank you. Did the Welsh Government publish a decision report or announce this decision to acquire an interest in Local Partnerships?
12 Mehefin 2024 , Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Sesiwn Dystiolaeth: Local Partnerships LLP
—big liability.
12 Mehefin 2024 , Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Sesiwn Dystiolaeth: Local Partnerships LLP
I presuming that normal limited liability rules would apply and that, like most public sector borrowing, there'd also be insurance provision in place in the event of a—
12 Mehefin 2024 , Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Sesiwn Dystiolaeth: Local Partnerships LLP
And hypothetically, if you did consider it and you were able to change that status in the future, hypothetically, would your liability be limited?
12 Mehefin 2024 , Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Sesiwn Dystiolaeth: Local Partnerships LLP
Okay, thank you. Again, referring to the choice taken to opt out of taking a share of the distribution because of the risk of liability, has there been any cost-benefit analysis undertaken in the context of distributions and liabilities since then, or is…
12 Mehefin 2024 , Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Sesiwn Dystiolaeth: Local Partnerships LLP
Okay, so there would be no concern or monitoring from their end if you made what they might regard as excessive demands on their resource at the expense of one of the other larger shareholders.
12 Mehefin 2024 , Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Sesiwn Dystiolaeth: Local Partnerships LLP
Thank you. Can I just ask a few supplementaries before we bring in Adam Price? In the context of the 5 per cent holding, how, if at all, does the LLP monitor the Welsh Government call on its services to ensure that it reflects that 5 per cent holding? Is…
12 Mehefin 2024 , Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Sesiwn Dystiolaeth: Local Partnerships LLP
Mike Hedges.
12 Mehefin 2024 , Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Sesiwn Dystiolaeth: Local Partnerships LLP
Thank you. If I bring Mike Hedges—. Sorry, Natasha. Natasha Asghar.
12 Mehefin 2024 , Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Sesiwn Dystiolaeth: Local Partnerships LLP
How complex is it to provide some form of comparability figure that this committee can consider?
12 Mehefin 2024 , Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Sesiwn Dystiolaeth: Local Partnerships LLP
So, you say it's gone up slightly in recent years, can you pinpoint particular projects or causes, or has there been a general upward trend on comparative work?
12 Mehefin 2024 , Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Sesiwn Dystiolaeth: Local Partnerships LLP
For comparative purposes, because, obviously, we were looking at year-on-year comparisons, would you be able to provide us with the figure you do have, notwithstanding the caveats you have provided?
12 Mehefin 2024 , Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Sesiwn Dystiolaeth: Local Partnerships LLP
Okay. How much did the Welsh Government spend on consultants in 2022-23 and 2023-24, and how do those figures compare with figures in previous years?
12 Mehefin 2024 , Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Sesiwn Dystiolaeth: Local Partnerships LLP
So, it's optional rather than mandatory.
12 Mehefin 2024 , Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Sesiwn Dystiolaeth: Local Partnerships LLP
So, would this be captured routinely in an internal audit process?
12 Mehefin 2024 , Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Sesiwn Dystiolaeth: Local Partnerships LLP
So, just to clarify, then, there's no systemic monitoring of the commissioning that's been undertaken to ensure compliance with general guidance and effective use of resource?
