, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Draft budget 2023-24: ministerial evidence session
Welcome back to the Equality and Social Justice Committee and our ministerial scrutiny of the budget of the Minister and Deputy Minister in the social justice department. Welcome to Jane Hutt, the Minister for Social Justice, Hannah Blythyn, Deupty Minister…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Motion under Standing Order 17.42(vi) and (ix) to exclude the public from items 4, 5, 6 and 8 of the meeting
So, for now, I wondered if Members would be prepared to take a motion, under Standing Order 17.42, to exclude the public from items 4, 5, 6 and 8 of this meeting. For members of the public who are watching, we will be scrutinising the Minister for Social…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Papers to note
Okay, thank you. I was a member of the Bevan Foundation; not at the moment, because my budget's non-existent, but I'm also a member of Unite, but I'm not sure that there's anything relevant to today's agenda in relation to that matter.
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Papers to note
And I wondered if Members could note the list of papers that are on the agenda for public scrutiny. Are there any points?
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Introductions, apologies and substitutions
Prynhawn da. Welcome to Members and to members of the public attending the first meeting of 2023 of the Equality and Social Justice Committee. Our main item of business this afternoon is scrutinising next year's budget, but, for the time being, I want to just…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Electric vehicle charging - evidence session 3
Okay. Thank you.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Electric vehicle charging - evidence session 3
But while they're charging their cars, they're going to the shop, or having a meal in a cafe or whatever.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Electric vehicle charging - evidence session 3
Do you do much work with community councils? Because a lot of them have quite a lot of dosh, and they might think of that as an effective way of investing for the benefit of their community.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Electric vehicle charging - evidence session 3
Oh, right. So, they've not jumped on this as a serious opportunity for attracting business.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Electric vehicle charging - evidence session 3
So, you've never had dealings with Powys then, which, obviously, is a massive land mass.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Electric vehicle charging - evidence session 3
I haven't, but I'm sure others might have.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Electric vehicle charging - evidence session 3
I'm struggling to understand why, because you could do a local community renewable energy scheme and then you'd make some money for your community. What's not to like in all that?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Electric vehicle charging - evidence session 3
Okay, thank you.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Electric vehicle charging - evidence session 3
Okay, fine, you said that already—I heard it.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Electric vehicle charging - evidence session 3
Okay. But there's nothing you could point to, even through Western Power Distribution, which you now own?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Electric vehicle charging - evidence session 3
Okay, so, there's nothing in your business plan to use underused assets, say, in the middle of the night, to top up particular sites and then get it used, obviously, when people are actually moving around.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Electric vehicle charging - evidence session 3
Okay. But, what about—? Given that we're talking about the area of Wales that's not connected to the grid, or very poorly connected to the grid, what would be the strategy for combining community renewable generation and electricity storage? What role could…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Electric vehicle charging - evidence session 3
Okay. So, as far as you're concerned, then, it's the role of Government to fill in that major hole in the EV network charging points.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Electric vehicle charging - evidence session 3
Okay. So, what would your strategy be for putting charging points on the A470, which is obviously the spine that connects north and south Wales?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Electric vehicle charging - evidence session 3
But you had a successful business that's perfectly capable of enhancing its business model, whereas other communities might need a bit more of a helping hand.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Electric vehicle charging - evidence session 3
Okay. Thank you very much. I want to look at how we're spreading the good message and the advantages of having electric vehicles rather than simply just replicating existing models. So, Malcolm, you, in your paper, talk about using forecasting as to where…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Electric vehicle charging - evidence session 3
That is a worry.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Electric vehicle charging - evidence session 3
As you've had all these conversations with local authorities, how come they aren't seeing it as a regeneration opportunity? Tourism is one of our main industries, and if you want to get people to come into Wales with their expensive electric vehicles, they're…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Electric vehicle charging - evidence session 2
They've got dosh, a lot of them.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Electric vehicle charging - evidence session 2
Community councils.
