, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Public Appointments: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
Have you also trialled different techniques in terms of appointing—so, rather than just a formal interview, different ways of assessing people for jobs, which companies in the private sector now use, in order to see whether they can have a positive impact on…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Public Appointments: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
In terms of the work that you've done to simplify the language that's used in information packs et cetera, and in job descriptions, have you tested that, or have you consulted with people from those target groups, from the under-represented groups, just to…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Public Appointments: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
Just to be clear, you don't therefore provide specific help to make applications, but do you provide training to people from under-represented groups in general to help them improve their skills in terms of writing applications?
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Public Appointments: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
Do you offer help directly to people from under-represented groups to make applications, to write them, for example?
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Public Appointments: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
You've referred to the information that you've given to public bodies appointment panels. Does that include information relating to how they can make reasonable adjustments for disabled candidates specifically?
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Public Appointments: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
Those actions, do they also include a change in terms of the job descriptions, for example, to recognise the role of lived experience rather than specialism in more conventional terms?
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Public Appointments: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
Yes, can we turn to the application process, specifically, please? What action have you taken to make the application process itself more accessible to candidates who come from traditionally under-represented groups?
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Public Appointments: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
Okay. I'm grateful, Chair. Thank you.
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Public Appointments: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
But you could provide us with that data?
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Public Appointments: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
But you don’t currently have that data.
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Public Appointments: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
But is it more difficult to reflect Wales if there is a significantly higher proportion not actually based in Wales, then, I suppose? Is that a factor in some of your thinking?
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Public Appointments: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
Just in terms of a policy position, would you accept, or does the Government accept that having a percentage that was too high of people living outside Wales would be an issue in terms of attaining the aim of reflecting Wales—that is, reflecting the citizens…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Public Appointments: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
Well, maybe you could provide those figures to us. And just finally: in terms of the percentage of people who live outside Wales, do you have the general figures, new appointments, or all the appointments, just for us to get some kind of broad-ranging idea of…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Public Appointments: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
The figures that I’ve seen in the past: there is an under-representation of Welsh speakers that has existed in the past on boards. Have you found that in the analyses that you’ve seen? Without giving us any figures, but have you recognised whether there is…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Public Appointments: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
Could I just ask, Chair: we have figures relating to ethnic backgrounds and disability and LGBTQ+, and it’s good to see that information, and the progress that has been made in terms of representation in those under-represented groups in the past. Now, do you…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Public Appointments: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
The strategy goes on to note the exact question that Mike Hedges raised. I'm quoting the strategy: 'Data for locality are also necessary, in response to the perception that many Boards are “Cardiff-centred”' and that people outside of Cardiff and the…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Public Appointments: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
The strategy that is the basis of this work dates back, I think, three years ago, 'Reflecting Wales in Running Wales'. I think it goes back to 2020, doesn't it? In that strategy, it does raise the need for data relating to the dimensions Mike Hedges has just…
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
The Electoral Commission has asked for further powers in order to enable them to regulate in this area to prevent misuse of AI. But, they’ve said that if they don’t get those additional powers early in the new year, it’ll be impossible to prevent misuse in…
, Plenary
Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
A number of experts have recently warned about the potential threat that new, artificial intelligence technology represents in terms of the integrity of our elections and our democracy more broadly. Already this year, we saw in Slovakia, for example, the…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Climate Change: Water Quality
Minister, you referred in your statement to the two water companies in Wales that supply customers, but there are two other companies who operate in Wales, United Utilities and Severn Trent Water, who extract billions of litres of water from Wales, exporting…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
That's very helpful. Thank you.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
You can remind me, Minister: where are we in terms of charitable tax relief on private schools and hospitals in Wales? You had a consultation some years ago. What's the—? Does this Bill change your powers in that regard in any way?
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
This is a policy question, rather than a—. But seeing as we've gone in that direction—
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
Would it be possible to at least define on the face of the Bill now on the basis of current understanding of the kinds of potential avoidance schemes, but then leave it up to regulations for the future as people devise new ways, because at least that would…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
And why have you chosen not to define artificial avoidance arrangements on the face of the Bill, and instead you're leaving that to regulations?
