, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
First Minister, I'm not going to go down the route of John Griffiths and make a PR bite in order for the UK election to get a way ahead. Let's focus on the Welsh issues, which are what we're all sitting here for, and that's why I'm going to be saying that our…
, Standards of Conduct Committee
Inquiry into Individual Member Accountability: Evidence session 6
Thank you so much, Counsel General. Thank you, Chair.
, Standards of Conduct Committee
Inquiry into Individual Member Accountability: Evidence session 6
Thank you, Chair. Counsel General, thank you so much for the answers that you've been giving so far. I've been listening to them intently. We all know we're halfway through this term, we've got another few years to go before the next election. In 2026, we've…
, Standards of Conduct Committee
Inquiry into Individual Member Accountability: Evidence session 5
Thank you so much. Thanks, Chair.
, Standards of Conduct Committee
Inquiry into Individual Member Accountability: Evidence session 5
Thank you so much for that, Alistair. Coming to second part of my question—sorry, Chair, I promise I'll make it brief—before I interjected, you were talking about conduct. Obviously, I think that the committee is aware that, at the moment, there are only two…
, Standards of Conduct Committee
Inquiry into Individual Member Accountability: Evidence session 5
Firstly, you said that Westminster has got it near enough right, so what can we do in Wales to pretty much get it right and get it right close to the 100 per cent?
, Standards of Conduct Committee
Inquiry into Individual Member Accountability: Evidence session 5
Thank you so much, Chair. Morning, Alistair. Alistair, my question has two parts and I hope that's okay with you.
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Evidence Session: Local Partnerships LLP
Thank you so much. Thank you so much, Chair.
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Evidence Session: Local Partnerships LLP
But it will be determined, ultimately, by someone from your departments.
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Evidence Session: Local Partnerships LLP
I appreciate the different levels in what you've just said, but who decides on those different levels? Who decides that Mike Hedges will have access to certain documents for one project, I'll have access to another, Adam Price will have another, and we're all…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Evidence Session: Local Partnerships LLP
Okay. My final question now. So, Local Partnerships describe themselves as a 'hands-on organisation', noting it often sits alongside project teams rather than providing advice from afar. So, how does this actually work in reality? Does the Welsh Government…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Evidence Session: Local Partnerships LLP
Okay. I'm sure you're familiar with the civil service code of conduct, including impartiality. So, I just wanted to ask you: how do you ensure that such standards are met by staff and contractors who are part of LP, particularly where services you procure…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Evidence Session: Local Partnerships LLP
My apologies. Okay. So, who's responsible for the risks? When it all goes wrong—and you mentioned some great stories there and some great examples—if it goes wrong, who's to blame, who's getting sacked?
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Evidence Session: Local Partnerships LLP
So, who's accountable—? Sorry, go on. Sorry, were you saying something, Ed?
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Evidence Session: Local Partnerships LLP
Okay. So, what do you feel are the main benefits and, perhaps, risks of using Local Partnerships for us?
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Evidence Session: Local Partnerships LLP
You have the need for specialists—I'm not disputing that for a second—and there are certain areas where you are going to need them. But I'm saying if you have so many civil servants at hand who have specialist areas, who advise Ministers on a day-to-day basis…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Evidence Session: Local Partnerships LLP
I respect that and I understand that, but I'm just saying why not actually build the next, almost, generation of civil servants in-house, who have that expertise at hand so that you don't have to go, potentially, down these routes?
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Evidence Session: Local Partnerships LLP
Thank you so much, Chair. Just one sub-question, actually, that I wanted to bring in when Adam Price was asking his questions. Obviously, you mentioned civil servants, and I know Rhianon Passmore touched upon it with regard to expertise—I appreciate that. But…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Evidence Session: Local Partnerships LLP
I think Rhianon's question was: how many contracts have you received so far with that particular exemption? Is that correct, Rhianon? Yes, I've got the thumbs up there, so I think that's what she's asking.
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Evidence Session: Local Partnerships LLP
Fine. Thank you so much.
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Evidence Session: Local Partnerships LLP
And my final question now: how often did you have the value-for-money assessments on this particular project?
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Evidence Session: Local Partnerships LLP
And who oversaw the project during that time?
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Evidence Session: Local Partnerships LLP
In this particular example, how long was it from start to finish?
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Evidence Session: Local Partnerships LLP
That's fine. And just a sub-question to that. When a project is undertaken, obviously it will last one year, five years, 10 years, however long the project duration is going to be. How far in advance do you work? Do you work with a project amount from start…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Evidence Session: Local Partnerships LLP
For the project spend.
