, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Papers to note
We have a number of papers to note, starting with correspondence from the Permanent Secretary, who has written to us to provide a further update about the updating of 'Managing Welsh Public Money', after recommendations made in our previous committee report…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Introductions, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest
Good morning and welcome, everybody, to this morning's meeting of the Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee in the Senedd, the Welsh Parliament. The meeting, as always, will be held bilingually. Headsets provide simultaneous translation on…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Introductions, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest
Good morning and welcome, everybody.
, Plenary
Debate on the Children, Young People and Education Committee Report, 'Implementation of education reforms: Interim report'
Thank you. I'm possibly the only or one of the very few people remaining who sat on the Education and Lifelong Learning Committee from 2005 that produced the reports that eventually led to this legislation. I'm also the parent of what was then a child who had…
, Plenary
Debate on a Member's Legislative Proposal: A Bill relating to planning processes for quarry development
There is much in this motion to commend it. As referenced by the proposer, it is taken, in large part, from the Westminster private Member's Planning (Quarries) Bill proposed by Conservative MP Paul Holmes, which had a First Reading in the House of Commons in…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales
I'm frequently contacted by parents whose children are being left in a vulnerable position by local authorities' strict interpretation of the Welsh Government's Learner Travel (Wales) Measure 2008, which restricts free home-to-school transport to learners of…
, Plenary
Business Statement and Announcement
As chair of the cross-party group on deaf issues, I call for an oral Welsh Government statement to be scheduled here on the scrapped plans to introduce a British Sign Language, BSL, GCSE in Wales. I know you were asked about this in the business statement…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
We can't build sustainable public buildings without construction firms. In Wales, these are predominantly small and medium-sized enterprises, or SMEs. A new report by the Chartered Institute of Building has highlighted a rising number of Welsh construction…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Motion under Standing Order 17.42 (ix) to resolve to exclude the public from the remainder of this meeting
I propose that, in accordance with Standing Order 17.42(ix), the committee resolves to meet in private for the remainder of today's meeting. Are all Members content? I think that all Members present are content, so I'd be grateful, Owain, if you could take us…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Papers to note
So, if we could do that, then, perhaps, later and agree how we wish to take this forward with the Welsh Government in our further scrutiny. If Members are content with that, we'll move on to our sixth paper to note, a letter received from the Chief Executive…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Papers to note
Oh, sorry. Adrian.
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Papers to note
—what we're going to be doing.
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Papers to note
Lovely. Well, perhaps Owain could capture that within—
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Papers to note
Yes, please.
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Papers to note
My only observation particularly is at the apparent contradiction of the use of the Welsh Government's term 'Teckal exemption', when it doesn't keep a central list enabling procurement of services using that.
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Papers to note
Do Audit Wales have an answer to that one?
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Papers to note
Other Members, any comments? Natasha.
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Papers to note
Owain is shaking his head negatively. Is that correct?
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Papers to note
Okay, thank you. Well, if we have nothing further on this paper—I think we've agreed decisions to go forward on—I'll move to our fifth paper to note, a letter from the director general and chief operating officer in relation to Local Partnerships LLP. So…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Papers to note
Thank you. Natasha. Sorry, Rhianon.
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Papers to note
Thank you. In that case, could I suggest, Owain, that we respond to them stating that the committee would like specific, bespoke updates, beginning with, at the next instance, an in-person attendance at a meeting, and if you could pursue the feasibility of…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Papers to note
Is that Rhianon? Yes, please.
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Papers to note
Thank you. So, the advice we're receiving is that, either in correspondence or through in-person attendance as witnesses, we do need continued specific, bespoke updates and it should not be put on our clerking team or on Members to have to trawl through…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Papers to note
Before I bring Adrian in, my thoughts are we would need some advice on whether the different mechanisms for seeking updates that they detail will meet or will enable this committee to shine a light on the information we need to have. Adrian.
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Papers to note
Perhaps we can capture that. Other Members, do you have any thoughts? Owain, I wonder if you could just remind us, obviously, their assumption is that they've now provided sufficient for future updates against each of the recommendations, does that comply…
