, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Scrutiny of Accounts—Welsh Government 2020-21
Of course. Dr Goodall, I appreciate the secondment side of things; I don't question the experience that you bring or that other civil servants bring by doing secondments. It's just in relation to certain—and I think you know exactly what I'm alluding to—…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Scrutiny of Accounts—Welsh Government 2020-21
Gentlemen, I know we're conscious of time—I know there are other questions that I want to ask, and my colleague Mike Hedges wants to ask you as well—but just to sum up my final statement or question to you: I've been listening to all of your statements today…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Scrutiny of Accounts—Welsh Government 2020-21
Okay. You describe the increase in the gender pay gap from 5.53 per cent on 31 March 2020 to 7.37 per cent on 31 March 2021 as 'disappointing'. What specific actions are you taking now to address this matter?
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Scrutiny of Accounts—Welsh Government 2020-21
It is. I'm just going to ask a little sub-question to that now. The Welsh Government reported an off-payroll arrangement for six of its board members and/or senior officials with significant financial responsibility from 2020 to 2021. So, how many of these…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Scrutiny of Accounts—Welsh Government 2020-21
Thank you so much. I'd just like to ask two or three for clarification. In what circumstances are the Welsh Government entering into off-payroll arrangements for staff? Why are some for periods of more than a year? And how do you ensure the individuals are…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Scrutiny of Accounts—Welsh Government 2020-21
Thank you so much, Dr Goodall; that would be really, really, appreciated.
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Scrutiny of Accounts—Welsh Government 2020-21
Thank you so much. And, Dr Goodall, can I make a humble request to you and your team as well, please, because if you look at the business and enterprise as well as industrial strategies from the UK Government—yes, I'm using an example of the UK Government in…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Scrutiny of Accounts—Welsh Government 2020-21
Yes, thank you so much, Chair. Just a quick question, gentlemen—in fact, just a bit of an elaboration on what I asked you previously, if that's okay, from yourselves, Duncan and Dr Goodall. I hope you don't mind me asking this. You mentioned previously in…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Scrutiny of Accounts—Welsh Government 2020-21
That's fine. I have just one final question to ask before I pass it on to the Chair again. Now, Audit Wales says that one local authority purchased additional national fraud initiative products, which, with its other controls, identified fraud and error…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Scrutiny of Accounts—Welsh Government 2020-21
Duncan, can you give me as a cash value as to how much this 4 per cent accumulates to?
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Scrutiny of Accounts—Welsh Government 2020-21
That's okay.
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Scrutiny of Accounts—Welsh Government 2020-21
—who filled out a form wrongly and were still paid out.
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Scrutiny of Accounts—Welsh Government 2020-21
So, Duncan, just to clarify, the error rate—that application that, perhaps, wasn't eligible, for example—that figure that you're giving is including those people, for those errors—
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Scrutiny of Accounts—Welsh Government 2020-21
That's fine.
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Scrutiny of Accounts—Welsh Government 2020-21
No fraud or 4 per cent?
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Scrutiny of Accounts—Welsh Government 2020-21
Thanks so much, Duncan. Audit Wales has actually reported that some local authorities have submitted fraud returns to the Welsh Government that have not actually included any cases of fraud and error, and it says that it seems unlikely in practice, albeit…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Scrutiny of Accounts—Welsh Government 2020-21
Okay. What expectations have you now set in place for local authorities on post-completion checks? And what line of sight do you have, going forward, as to what they're doing and, potentially, some results that you may be seeing in the responses that you've…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Scrutiny of Accounts—Welsh Government 2020-21
Thank you. Duncan, you mentioned earlier that you're using section 151 officers' certification for assurance over the COVID-19 support for businesses administered by local authorities. Yet, according to what we've heard and what we've uncovered here in the…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Scrutiny of Accounts—Welsh Government 2020-21
Thank you so much, Chair. The Welsh Government, obviously, during the thick of COVID, gave discretion to a lot of local authorities for eligibility under the COVID-19 non-domestic rates grant scheme. My question is: what do you know about the extent of…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Scrutiny of Accounts—Welsh Government 2020-21
That's answered my question. Thank you, Chair.
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Scrutiny of Accounts—Welsh Government 2020-21
Okay. Thanks.
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Scrutiny of Accounts—Welsh Government 2020-21
Good morning, gentlemen. Dr Goodall, thank you so much for all the information that you're providing for the committee at the moment. I'm sorry for hopscotching; I know our Chair has asked you a series of questions, but I just wanted to go back to what Mike…
, Plenary
Debate on the Public Accounts and Public Administration Report: Care Home Commissioning
This report on care home commissioning follows the auditor general's review published in October last year, entitled 'A Picture of Social Care'. This review has looked at the whole social care sector all across Wales and it has identified three key issues and…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
Thanks, Minister. I recently met with the Federation of Small Businesses Wales to discuss the problems facing companies trying to grow and thrive in the current difficult economic climate. Against a backdrop of uncertainty, it was made clear that alleviating…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
1. What discussions has the Welsh Government had with the UK Government regarding the potential benefits of creating low-tax investment zones in Wales? OQ58563
