, Finance Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Independent Remuneration Board of the Senedd
Welcome back to this session. We are now going to go into a session with the remuneration board.
, Finance Committee
Motion under Standing Order 17.42(ix) to resolve to exclude the public from items 5 and 7
In accordance with Standing Order 17.42, I propose that the committee resolves to exclude the public for items 5 and 7. So, we'll go into private session, if everyone's content. Great. Thank you very much.
, Finance Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Senedd Commission
Okay. Thank you so much for this morning, and for your answers. Obviously, you are confident that the information that you have provided to the Government for this Bill is as good as it can be within the parameters. Thank you very much for that.
, Finance Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Senedd Commission
Diolch. You talked earlier about—and I think it was in answer to Peter Fox's question—full-time equivalents for Commission were less than that for additional Members, due to assumptions that some changes in working practices would be necessary. Can you just…
, Finance Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Senedd Commission
We've got known knowns, and we've got known unknowns, and we've got unknown unknowns, if you look at it like that. So, you've been able to cost the known knowns, you've made a good assumption on the known unknowns, and that's where the modelling comes in. Can…
, Finance Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Senedd Commission
Okay. I think that's going to be—. Have you got any further questions, Peter?
, Finance Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Senedd Commission
Okay. And what dialogue did you have with the Welsh Government regarding the potential costs of Members' job share? Have you looked at any of that in your modelling?
, Finance Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Senedd Commission
Okey dokes. Just looking at how the Commission ensured that the financial implications of the Bill were complete, and looking at things like job sharing and things that are coming down the line as well, your estimate for Members’ travel expenses reflects a…
, Finance Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Senedd Commission
I've got—. Mike Hedges has arrived. That's excellent. Hello, Mike. I'm sorry you've had a bad journey to work this morning, but I'm just wondering if you've got any questions yourself. I know you haven't listened to all of this session, but whether or not…
, Finance Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Senedd Commission
Thank you. Alun.
, Finance Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Senedd Commission
Okay. Thank you. Sorry.
, Finance Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Senedd Commission
So, it's a prudent measure—?
, Finance Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Senedd Commission
But I'm just thinking, reality on day one, potentially, could be at the bottom of the band, and, over time, move to the middle?
, Finance Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Senedd Commission
Just on that point, you talked about the middle, the average. Am I right in saying that new staff normally come in at the bottom of the band, and going over time, so that's why you've possibly taken an average rather than a—?
, Finance Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Senedd Commission
Ken, do you want to come in on that?
, Finance Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Senedd Commission
Okay, thank you very much. That's it from me. I'll move on to Peter, if I may.
, Finance Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Senedd Commission
Okay.
, Finance Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Senedd Commission
Yes, I'm just making sure that when we see your budget, we'll be able to easily see how much this change is costing, so that we can properly scrutinise what's going on. And, obviously, the Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee then, as the money…
, Finance Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Senedd Commission
Okay. So—. Ken, did you want—?
, Finance Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Senedd Commission
Okay. So, the RIA notes that cost savings have not been identified for the Commission, similar to what Alun was saying earlier, and benefits could not be monetised. What analysis did you undertake to determine potential savings and identify quantifiable…
, Finance Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Senedd Commission
So, is that the main difference or have things like inflation and that sort of thing come in too? Because, obviously, we've had a very different financial outlook now from what was there previously.
, Finance Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Senedd Commission
Yes, what use, sorry.
, Finance Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Senedd Commission
Diolch. So, moving on a little bit, what did you use to make the cost estimates published by the expert panel in November 2017 and the Committee on Senedd Electoral Reform in September 2020 to ensure the completeness and accuracy of the financial implications…
, Finance Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Senedd Commission
Sorry, I don't know if Ken wants to come in, because obviously, you're nodding away.
, Finance Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Senedd Commission
Alun, did you want to come in?
