, Finance Committee
Fiscal Intergovernmental Relations: Evidence session 1
I'll just bring Rhianon in very briefly, and then I'll go to Mike, and then, Rhianon, you'll get your chance to ask questions after.
, Finance Committee
Fiscal Intergovernmental Relations: Evidence session 1
It's just fascinating, your insights. We're enjoying it this end and getting a lot of insight from you. If you're okay for time, we might run over a little bit.
, Finance Committee
Fiscal Intergovernmental Relations: Evidence session 1
I know Rhianon wants to come in. Before I bring Rhianon in, as I'm just conscious of time—I thought we had slightly longer than we have—how are you for time, Mr Rycroft? Are you okay if we run over by about 10 minutes?
, Finance Committee
Fiscal Intergovernmental Relations: Evidence session 1
You're okay until—. We'll move on to Mike at about 10 o'clock.
, Finance Committee
Fiscal Intergovernmental Relations: Evidence session 1
Yes.
, Finance Committee
Fiscal Intergovernmental Relations: Evidence session 1
Thank you very much for that. I'll move over to Peter.
, Finance Committee
Fiscal Intergovernmental Relations: Evidence session 1
Thank you for that. Before I come on to some questions from Peter, how effective are the current structures in creating those relationships? Do they work? You talked about bilateral discussions when there was a previous Labour administration in London, and…
, Finance Committee
Fiscal Intergovernmental Relations: Evidence session 1
Going back to that comment around 2016, when things fell apart, if you like—you got so far but didn't get any further—in your view, or from your experience, what caused that? Was it those breakdowns in relationships or was it more fundamental in the…
, Finance Committee
Fiscal Intergovernmental Relations: Evidence session 1
Thank you very much. What do you think about the new inter-governmental relations arrangements for fiscal matters, and how do they compare to previous structures that were in place?
, Finance Committee
Fiscal Intergovernmental Relations: Evidence session 1
Thank you very much. Croeso cynnes. It's good to have you with us. A very long pedigree there, and we're going to pick your brains this morning and see what you think of inter-governmental relations. Could I start this morning by asking you if you could give…
, Finance Committee
Fiscal Intergovernmental Relations: Evidence session 1
We come to our substantive item this morning, and it's our first evidence session in the fiscal inter-governmental relations inquiry that we're doing. We're joined this morning by Philip Rycroft. Welcome. Croeso cynnes. I'll ask him to introduce himself for…
, Finance Committee
Papers to note
We'll move on to item 2, which are the paper to note. I have four papers to note. Are there any comments on anything? No. Diolch yn fawr. We'll note those items.
, Finance Committee
Papers to note
We'll move on to item 2.
, Finance Committee
Introductions, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest
Good morning and welcome to this meeting of the Finance Committee. All the Members are here this morning, so we have had no apologies. The meeting will be broadcast live on Senedd.tv, and the Record of Proceedings will be published as usual after the session…
, Plenary
Debate: The Local Government Settlement 2024-25
It's no exaggeration to say that this debate comes at a time when there's an existential crisis in our local authorities. Fourteen years of Tory-driven austerity has left local government finances in Wales in an utterly ruinous state, compromising the ability…
, Plenary
Debate: The Final Budget 2024-25
Dirprwy Lywydd, I would like to finish my contribution by looking ahead to the future. Scrutiny is fundamental to identify key areas in the Welsh Government’s budgetary plans that require improvement. I will shortly be writing to Senedd committees—as I have…
, Plenary
Debate: The Final Budget 2024-25
However, before I reflect on the Minister’s response to our report, I'd like to address some general points. Firstly, I want to express our sympathy with the Welsh Government’s position. As the Minister has mentioned, it's highly regrettable that we are…
, Plenary
Debate: The Final Budget 2024-25
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I am pleased to contribute to this debate on the Welsh Government’s final budget. The committee’s report on the draft budget included 39 recommendations, and I am pleased that the Minister has been able to accept the majority of them…
, Plenary
Debate: Welsh Rates of Income Tax 2024-25
As we've mentioned many times before, the inability of the Senedd to set its own tax bands, in contrast to the powers enjoyed by the Scottish Government, means that, in practical terms, the Welsh rate of income tax is inherently limited as a fiscal lever…
, Petitions Committee
Updates to previous petitions
Just quickly as well, I'm not sure—. I haven't read it in the notes, but just something, maybe, that we'd want to add to the letter, which might have a bearing, is changing the law with regard to ID for voting. A blue badge is one of the ones that you can…
, Petitions Committee
Updates to previous petitions
Diolch, Cadeirydd. Yes, it's good to be able to discuss this petition again today. There are quite a few questions coming backward and forward with this one, and there are quite a few concerns raised. I know we've had some late correspondence in from Mark…
, Petitions Committee
Updates to previous petitions
Okay, item 3, updates to previous petitions. Item 3.1, P-06-1294, 'Don't leave metastatic breast cancer patients in Wales behind'. This was submitted by Tassia Haines, with a total of 14,106 signatures. Just to say to members of the committee that I was…
, Petitions Committee
New Petitions
Is it worth then that we leave this petition open if we want to get that clarification? Because I tend to agree with Altaf there on finding out if there is any data or any information as to what happened. Do we track that information through, and maybe we…
, Petitions Committee
New Petitions
Yes, it was very—. Thank you, Chair. It was very impressive to see the stack of signed petitions, because, you know, over 8,000 names on paper is impressive compared to ticking a box or going through the online process, but actually physically getting it…
, Petitions Committee
New Petitions
Yes. Is it possible, then, to—? I know this would possibly be the lead Plenary debate if we had one, but would we be able to take into account the other petitions as well, just so that they all—? I don't know what mechanism we've got to do that, but I think…
