, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office
I have regular discussions with the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care as part of our annual budget process and regular monitoring. These include discussions on preparations for the 2025-26 draft budget, recognising that public finances continue to…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office
I think an important point to make is that, even though the previous UK Government referred to funding for the electrification of the north Wales main line, no actual funding was ever identified for that, so I just think that's important to get on record. In…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office
Well, we are hoping to have the first meeting of the Finance: Interministerial Standing Committee before the end of this month. It will be hosted in Belfast this time, because one of the strengths, I think, of the inter-governmental machinery around finance…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office
I had a constructive call with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury last Wednesday, during which we touched on several topics, including fair funding for Wales. There will be the opportunity for a more substantive discussion with the Chief Secretary in the…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office
Well, if I could just correct James Evans, I don't think I've ever used the phrase 'turning on the taps' in relation to a new UK Government when it arrived, in terms of what that might mean for us, and I would never have used that phrase, because we know…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office
The Welsh Government currently has no budgetary settlement beyond the current financial year. The Chancellor of the Exchequer has said that she will set out details on the timing of the UK budget before the summer recess. We will know more about the outlook…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office
I think the point here is that we are talking about businesses located here in Wales and people living here in Wales, and, in Wales, the tax base is very different. So, we do differ significantly from England in terms of our non-domestic rates. We've got a…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office
I'm very grateful for the question, and just want to recognise as well Vikki Howells’s constant support for a vacant land tax, recognising the importance that it can make to rejuvenating communities. I like the reference to 'grot spots'—I think that that is…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office
One of our key tax principles is to raise revenue to fund public services as fairly as possible. Devolved and local taxes raise vital revenues that support and benefit communities across Wales. In 2023-24 these taxes raised over £6 billion to invest in public…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office
I’m very grateful for that question. I too was really interested in the contents of the King’s Speech today. One of the things that really caught my eye, which is something that I’ve been calling for, is the budget responsibility Bill. That will require the…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office
One of the first steps taken by the Chancellor has been to request HM Treasury provides an assessment of the public finances before the UK parliamentary summer recess. She will also confirm her fiscal plans, including setting the date for the budget. This…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office
I'm very grateful for the question. In terms of the additional rate relief that we're providing to retail, hospitality and leisure businesses, which is the particular relief that you referred to, it was never intended to be a permanent relief; it was…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office
So, we have a really wide package of support for businesses. We're investing more than £0.33 billion this year in support for businesses in respect of their business rates. I will look at the guidance that we provide to local authorities in respect of…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office
We are providing additional non-domestic rates support worth £134 million this year, on top of our permanent reliefs worth over £250 million. Ratepayers for almost half of properties, including thousands of small businesses, receive full relief. When partial…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office
I am grateful for that question. I should have said in response to the previous question that I'd be more than happy to organise a technical briefing for all colleagues in relation to the HS2 figure in order to get under the bonnet, if you like, of some of…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office
So, I probably wouldn't argue that the £700 million is owed to Wales; I'd use different language to that, in the sense that it is an impact of inflation and it's had the same impact across the border. So, in that sense, it's not as if UK Government has pulled…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office
The first thing to say is that the figure of £350 million was forthcoming in the debates that we had. We had a specific debate, I think, in the Senedd in relation to HS2, and in that debate I explained the £350 million figure, but then, as the debate…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office
Llywydd, there was no slight or offence intended in not engaging in those fuller discussions with the Conservative benches on the constitution issues. I will endeavour to put that right as soon as possible.
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office
Well, two points of clarification. Those discussions were had with Plaid Cymru in relation to the budget discussions that we had in order to facilitate the passage of the Welsh Government’s budget for this financial year. I have spoken about the intention to…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office
Yes, I'm very happy to do so. I have met with both of the chairs of the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales and talked about the Welsh Government’s response, particularly to those recommendations that were aimed at the Welsh…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office
Well, we very much recognise the pressures that there are in the rail sector here in Wales, and that’s one of the reasons, in the last financial year, that, responding to the impacts on inflation, we undertook that exercise across Government to reprioritise…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office
I look forward to working in close partnership with the UK Government to deliver fairness in funding for public services across a range of areas. The appointment of Lord Hendy as rail Minister is a positive step, given his expert knowledge and his…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office
There wouldn't be any discussions that I would be having with local authorities or stakeholders directly; those discussions would be led by the Minister, or the Cabinet Secretary now, for education. I've just given a brief update on where we are in relation…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office
I'm really grateful for the question and I did have a very early discussion with the new Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Darren Jones. In those discussions, I highlighted public sector pay as being one of the most important and significant issues to us in…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office
An engaged and motivated workforce is central to delivering effective public services. We are committed to paying fair settlements that reward workers but that are affordable within our budget.
