, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 1
So, with the change from 75 per cent to 40 per cent, how much did that release?
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 1
You mentioned non-domestic rates there. Obviously, Welsh Government policy is different from what's happening over the border. There's been a little bit of concern by smaller businesses that the relief is going to be less in Wales than it is over the border…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 1
Thanks. I'm going to bring Laura Anne in in just a second. Just looking at the tax policy report that you've published alongside the budget, could you give us a couple of highlights from that, and what would be your main takeaways from that report—what should…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 1
Was that statement or a question, Mike?
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 1
Do you wish you'd borrowed earlier this time, because, obviously, interest rates have shot up?
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 1
Thank you. Just on Laura's point just now, I understand that there have been technical issues this morning, which has meant that this meeting is not being broadcast live on Senedd.tv, as it usually is. The public gallery has been open throughout the meeting…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 1
Are you confident that a different Chancellor might heed those calls?
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 1
Oh, right. Okay, thank you. We'll investigate into that and see what's happening. Okay. Okey-dokes. I believe it's being recorded, though, Laura Anne, so at least it will be available to catch up. That's my understanding, I think. Yes, okay, excellent. Thanks…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 1
Okay, thank you. Laura Anne, I'll bring you in briefly and then we'll probably have to move on. Thank you.
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 1
Okay, thank you.
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 1
Of course, because we know that the housing grant and that sort of thing helps keep people in their homes, which means that they then don't become homeless, that they don't become sicker or that they don't end up in hospital—it's that vicious circle. So, it's…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 1
Okay. Thank you. And whilst we're talking about this, obviously you're the Minister for local government as well, and social care is a big aspect of working hand in hand with the NHS. By protecting local government to a certain extent—obviously, nowhere near…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 1
So, after taking out all the efficiencies and the savings that the Minister just talked about, then the MEG will—
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 1
Because, obviously, you're giving £450 million, and then effectively taking away as well. So, it's where does it end up at the end.
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 1
So, what's the price tag on all those reprioritisations, so that we get the net difference, I suppose?
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 1
Lovely. Thank you very much. Whilst we're talking about the NHS, in your statement in October, obviously, £425 million was given to the NHS, and in this budget there's an extra £450 million. You also talked about cuts within departments. Is the £450 million…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 1
We can certainly ask that question. I think they're giving evidence to us, so we can certainly ask that question of them to see.
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 1
Yes, no problem.
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 1
Rhianon.
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 1
Okay, I'll let Laura Anne come back in and then I know Rhianon wants to come in as well.
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 1
That would be useful, yes, because this committee likes nitty-gritty. [Laughter.] Laura Anne wanted to ask a question. Thank you.
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 1
Okay. And why do you think that the CPI is more reflective rather than the GDP deflator? Is that because—? Because CPI, obviously, is the pricing index of effectively the things that we buy, isn't it, rather than capital projects and those sorts of things…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 1
Have you calculated the £1.3 billion figure using the deflator and what would that figure be?
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 1
Thanks for that. You talked about the £1.3 billion. Obviously, we’ve talked a lot about the £900 million over the summer as well. Can you talk us through what inflation calculation you used for that, what was the base point and how that looks over time and…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 1
Thanks for that. Rhianon. There we are. Hang on. There we are.
