, Finance Committee
Fiscal Inter-governmental Relations: Evidence session 8
Definitely.
, Finance Committee
Fiscal Inter-governmental Relations: Evidence session 8
I think, critically, those discussions would have to be—or any kind of work stream would have to be—on a four-nations basis. It absolutely couldn't be a Treasury-led exercise, and obviously we wouldn't accept anything that might result in less funding for…
, Finance Committee
Fiscal Inter-governmental Relations: Evidence session 8
So, we have through our bilateral meetings, and also I've mentioned them in the FISC meetings as well, the work that was done in 'Reforming our Union', so that is the way in which we would envisage that kind of needs-based approach being taken forward in…
, Finance Committee
Fiscal Inter-governmental Relations: Evidence session 8
I hope not, because we also have those bilateral relationships with Treasury as well. So, there are things where you would expect all devolved Governments to have a particular interest in, for example, all of us—and the UK Government as well—will be feeling…
, Finance Committee
Fiscal Inter-governmental Relations: Evidence session 8
Yes, absolutely.
, Finance Committee
Fiscal Inter-governmental Relations: Evidence session 8
Yes, I will say—. Just to say as well that when we talked at the start about those principles for inter-governmental relations, about establishing trust, confidentiality and good communication, actually, those meetings that we have on a trilateral basis are…
, Finance Committee
Fiscal Inter-governmental Relations: Evidence session 8
We have regular meetings on a trilateral basis in any case. So, around every eight weeks, I meet with the Ministers from Scotland and Northern Ireland on that trilateral basis, again to talk about how we can best work together to influence the UK Government…
, Finance Committee
Fiscal Inter-governmental Relations: Evidence session 8
It is really frustrating because those FISC meetings are really important in terms of being able to set out our particular concerns, our asks, to try to make some progress on those things. But it has been the case, when there's been churn in the UK…
, Finance Committee
Fiscal Inter-governmental Relations: Evidence session 8
Well, without taking anything for granted, Chair, in terms of what might happen in the election tomorrow, I was pleased to see the commitment within the Labour manifesto, which relates to updating the fiscal framework, and I think that is really important in…
, Finance Committee
Fiscal Inter-governmental Relations: Evidence session 8
Yes, because we are very much at the tail end of the process when we finally get our figures. So, last year, I think that there were—. The capital to revenue switch, I think it was in health and in transport, and both of those then came out through the…
, 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…
