, Local Government and Housing Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023 - 24 - evidence session 2: Minister for Finance and Local Government
Thank you, Minister. Diolch yn fawr. Diolch, Cadeirydd.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023 - 24 - evidence session 2: Minister for Finance and Local Government
And just finally from me, do you have concerns about councils' ability to fund and source contractors to provide home-to-school transport? This is something that is a big issue for many young people and parents. Has the Welsh Government undertaken any…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023 - 24 - evidence session 2: Minister for Finance and Local Government
Thank you. That's really helpful. If you could provide us with some more information, I'm sure the Chair would be keen to have that.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023 - 24 - evidence session 2: Minister for Finance and Local Government
Diolch, Cadeirydd, and good morning, Minister. You mentioned in one of your answers the work that's been going on to move us closer to net-zero targets. Perhaps you could expand on the capital and revenue allocations made to support decarbonisation. Also, in…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Motion under Standing Order 17.42(ix) to resolve to exclude the public from the remainder of this meeting
So, we will now move on to item 4, which is to move into private session. So, I propose, in accordance with Standing Order 17.42, that the committee resolves to meet in private for the remainder of this meeting. Are Members content? I see Members are content…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Papers to note
We'll move on, just quickly, to papers to note. We've got a number of papers to note this morning. We have 14, in fact, papers to note. So, that is set out on the agenda and in the paper pack. Are Members content that we note these 14 papers together? I can…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24—evidence session 1
Okay, thank you, Minister. I can see no further questions from Members, so I'd just like to thank you very much for coming in this morning and joining us and for your evidence that you have given us. As I said, thank you again for your very comprehensive…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24—evidence session 1
We could but try. And, just finally as well, perhaps. The committee has called in the past to have a separate child rights impact assessment. Can you explain why you haven't carried out a separate child rights impact assessment of your budget, as the…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24—evidence session 1
Okay, thank you, Ken. Just to take you back to the point on free school meals, Minister, just on the basis of what you'd said earlier, can you confirm that you're actively considering extending holiday free school meal provision beyond February half term if…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24—evidence session 1
Okay.
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24—evidence session 1
Okay, thanks. Ken.
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24—evidence session 1
Can I just bring Sioned Williams in on this point?
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24—evidence session 1
Thank you, Sioned. And questions from Ken Skates.
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24—evidence session 1
Thank you for that clarification—really helpful. Questions now from Sioned Williams. Sioned.
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24—evidence session 1
Thank you. That's really helpful, Minister. We appreciate the point you made on the £32 million as well. Will they be used for capital spend, the reserves?
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24—evidence session 1
Thank you, Buffy. What is your assessment as to why the budget reserves held by schools have been so historically high over the past two years? For example, in March 2021 they were £181 million and in March 2022 they were £301 million, compared to £32 million…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24—evidence session 1
Back to Buffy.
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24—evidence session 1
Diolch. James Evans would like to come in as well.
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24—evidence session 1
I'll just bring Sioned Williams in at this point.
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24—evidence session 1
Thanks, Laura. Questions now from Buffy Williams. Buffy.
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24—evidence session 1
Okay, thank you. Back to Laura.
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24—evidence session 1
I'll just bring James Evans in, just for a quick question on that.
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24—evidence session 1
That would be great, thank you. I'll move on to questions now from Laura Jones. Laura.
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24—evidence session 1
Okay. Thank you, James. Minister, I wonder if you'd share with us the interim findings from the year 7 free breakfasts pilot when you have that information.
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24—evidence session 1
Thank you. We'll move on to some questions now from James Evans.
