, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 5
A warm welcome to you.
, Finance Committee
Papers to note
So, we move on to our second item, which is papers to note. We have three papers to note, so I think we'll note those if Members are agreed, and we'll move into our first substantive item this morning.
, Finance Committee
Introductions, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest
Good morning, and welcome to the Finance Committee on a cold morning in Cardiff, and I'd like to say 'welcome' to Mike Hedges, who's down the M4 in Swansea this morning. This is a hybrid meeting, so everything is working as usual. We've received apologies…
, Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: Apprenticeships
I'd like to briefly speak on Plaid Cymru's call for a sustainable funding model for apprenticeships. We're looking at an in-year Welsh Government budget cut of £17.5 million. There is a deep context behind this, and that is the European structural funds…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Finance and Local Government: Ystadau Cymru
During a time of acute financial hardship, it is vital that the assets at the disposal of the Welsh Government are utilised effectively. This includes a range of public buildings that fall under the remit of Ystadau Cymru. In this post-COVID world, which has…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Finance and Local Government: Ystadau Cymru
Thank you for the statement this afternoon, Minister. It's a change from discussing the budget with you, so it's good to discuss something slightly different.
, Petitions Committee
Updates to previous petitions
Diolch, Gadeirydd. We've had a response from the First Minister, explaining the two scenarios in which the Government of Wales Act 2006 requires the Presiding Officer to arrange an extraordinary general election, neither of which would happen, I don't think…
, Petitions Committee
Updates to previous petitions
Diolch, Gadeirydd. I think we know that there's a consultation ongoing on this subject and, as such, I think it would be a little bit too early to close these down. It is likely to take a bit of time, so what I would suggest that we do is that we keep both…
, Plenary
Short Debate: Fail to plan, plan to fail—Why Wales needs a planning overhaul
I'd like to see animal welfare being incorporated into any planning application. The context behind this call is that the last remaining dog track in Wales lies in my region. It recently applied for planning permission to extend the facilities, allowing more…
, Plenary
Short Debate: Fail to plan, plan to fail—Why Wales needs a planning overhaul
I thank Mabon for allowing me to speak in this debate this afternoon. Before I start, I'd like to declare an interest as I've just submitted a planning application for a garden shed, but I don't want to talk about that. I do want to support what Mabon has…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services
Following on from Natasha's question, there have been warnings, obviously, for the last year that NHS dentistry in Wales has reached crisis point. It may be true that backlogs for those waiting for treatment have been reduced, but they are yet to return to…
, Finance Committee
Motion under Standing Order 17.42(ix) to resolve to exclude the public from the remainder of this meeting
We'll now move into private, hopefully, according to Standing Order 17.42, that the committee resolves now to exclude the public from the remainder of the meeting, if everybody is content. Yes, lovely. So, thank you very much. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 4
Well, that brings us to time. Thank you so much for your contributions today. It's been, again, fascinating and great to talk to you, and thanks for coming along. As I said, there will be a transcript available for you to check for accuracy, and please come…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 4
Yes. Excellent.
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 4
Peter, did you want to just come in on that?
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 4
And something that goes a little bit alongside that, especially with post-16 education, is the education maintenance allowance. I know Mike talked about it in the budget debate last year. There was an uplift from £30 to £40 per week. What other measures could…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 4
I suppose you'd concur, Victoria, on that.
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 4
Thank you. I've got a couple of questions to finish off. I went to a presentation by Cymorth Cymru and, as part of that, Llamau have come out and said that, without an uplift to the housing support grant, there'd be a real risk of services collapsing. What…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 4
Jessica, anything to add?
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 4
On that point, the Bevan Foundation has talked about the fiscal choices that the Government can make in setting the budget priorities. Do you think that the Welsh Government has utilised its powers to the best effect to ensure that the draft budget meets the…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 4
Thank you, Peter. Rhianon.
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 4
Jessica, anything to add?
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 4
Victoria, you go first, yes.
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 4
Thank you very much. Peter, I’ll come to you.
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 4
I know it’s subjective. Jessica, I don’t know if you wanted to comment at all on some of what Victoria’s been talking about, or if you’ve got any other insight.
