, Finance Committee
Fiscal Inter-governmental Relations: Evidence session 8
On the one hand, we're treated as just another department, because the UK Government I don't think appreciates the responsibilities that we have, the autonomy that we have, the scrutiny that we have, the fact that we have to report to the Senedd, we've got a…
, Finance Committee
Fiscal Inter-governmental Relations: Evidence session 8
I think, in terms of stable relationships, it definitely would help to have people who were in post for a longer period of time. So, just to build up understanding, really, of the issues that are facing us here in Wales and to be able to progress things, so…
, Finance Committee
Fiscal Inter-governmental Relations: Evidence session 8
It's worth saying as well that we have built into the process a regular review of the terms of reference of the FISC as well, and it was reviewed over the course of last summer, and there were some changes made to the terms of reference as a result of that…
, Finance Committee
Fiscal Inter-governmental Relations: Evidence session 8
I think that we do try, ahead of some FISC meetings, to give a clear indication to the Senedd and others as to what we will be saying in those meetings. So, for example, if there is a FISC meeting ahead of an autumn statement, for example, then we often…
, Finance Committee
Fiscal Inter-governmental Relations: Evidence session 8
I think the terms of reference are published, and we also publish a communiqué after each of the FISC meetings, which is quite high level, because it sets out who attended, what the broad issues on the agenda were, and then we don't tend to go into detail on…
, Finance Committee
Fiscal Inter-governmental Relations: Evidence session 8
I think it really shows how far we have come since I came into post. So, back in 2018 when I came into post, the finance Ministers quadrilateral, as it was at the point, hadn't met for a year. So, the first meeting I attended was chaired by Liz Truss at that…
, Finance Committee
Fiscal Inter-governmental Relations: Evidence session 8
Yes, I think those meetings could be really important and impactful in future, but, as with the whole of the inter-governmental relations structures, it really depends on energy and effort being put in by all parties, and a real commitment to using those…
, Finance Committee
Fiscal Inter-governmental Relations: Evidence session 8
Yes. So, I think that the inter-governmental relations structures themselves definitely have the protentional to be very useful in terms of enabling those cross-Government discussions and so forth, but, as of yet, they probably haven't had the opportunity to…
, Finance Committee
Fiscal Inter-governmental Relations: Evidence session 8
Of course. I'm Rebecca Evans, Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office. I'll ask officials to introduce themselves.
, Plenary
Motion to vary the order of consideration of Stage 3 amendments for the Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill
No.
, Plenary
Motion to vary the order of consideration of Stage 3 amendments for the Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill
Formally.
, Plenary
The Procurement (Wales) Regulations 2024
Thank you. Can I just say again how very grateful I am to the committee for the diligent scrutiny that they've undertaken of these regulations? In response to the committee's concerns regarding the list of central Government bodies listed in Schedule 2 to the…
, Plenary
The Procurement (Wales) Regulations 2024
Thank you. I move the motion to approve the Procurement (Wales) Regulations 2024. Procurement is one of the most effective levers available to deliver our policy ambitions in Wales. Each year, Welsh contracting authorities spend over £8 billion on public…
, Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: Wales and the next UK Government
Yes, so I'd be more than happy to do that. I actually wrote to all colleagues this week, and sent everybody an explainer, including how much we'd received from the UK Government in each of the financial years through our mechanisms—or we would have received…
, Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: Wales and the next UK Government
Diolch. Twenty-five years ago next Monday, most of the functions exercised by the Secretary of State of Wales transferred to the first ever National Assembly for Wales. Decisions on health, education, housing, transport, economic development and many other…
, Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: Wales and the next UK Government
Formally.
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office
To just begin by reassuring my colleague that I am absolutely giving this the priority it deserves within my portfolio, one of the first things that I did was to seek those meetings with the former co-chairs of the commission, Professor Laura McAllister and…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office
Having endorsed the commission's recommendations in full, we allocated additional resources to this important agenda in the 2024-25 budget. Preparatory work is well under way, and I will keep the Senedd updated on key developments.
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office
Yes. So, we continue to make the case for prudential borrowing. We think it's not only important to give us the flexibility that we need to invest in infrastructure, but also to give this Senedd the opportunity to take a view and to vote through and to agree…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office
I continue to make the case to the UK Government for increased borrowing powers for Wales. The Welsh Government has long supported a move to prudential borrowing. This would provide a more appropriate level of flexibility and enable this Senedd to approve the…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office
So, I look forward to having those further discussions in relation to the future devolution of justice here in Wales, and I think that the absence—as it is at the moment—of funding for legal aid certainly demonstrates one of the reasons. However, given the…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office
The Commission on Justice in Wales identified that access to justice is, as you suggested, really severely compromised following the cuts that were introduced under legal aid, and, of course, UK Government is responsible for legal aid, but we recognise the…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office
We agree with the commission's finding that legal aid funding cuts threaten the existence of traditional high-street law firms, and that people are now forced to represent themselves in civil and criminal courts. This often results in unjust outcomes…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office
This is a really important issue, and I've taken a lot of interest in grant administration since I came into portfolio. We of course now have our Welsh Government grants centre of excellence, which is always looking to support officials here to find ways to…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office
As part of developing and delivering any Welsh Government grant scheme, grant managers consider how schemes would be administered to ensure the purpose of the grant funding is effective and as efficient as it can be. Administration arrangements should be…
