, Plenary
Legislative Consent Motion on the Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill
I move the motion. I'm grateful for the work of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee on this matter, and for the report that they published. I'm pleased that the committee agreed with the position the Government set out in its legislative…
, Plenary
Debate: Budget flexibilities and the operation of the UK funding framework
Thank you very much. Thank you to all colleagues for their contributions in the debate this afternoon. And, as Alun Davies set out, the timing of UK Government fiscal events and spending announcements can have big impacts for the democratic process here in…
, Plenary
Debate: Budget flexibilities and the operation of the UK funding framework
The current UK financial arrangements do not offer the predictability and the funding certainty required to support our budget planning and that of our partner organisations, including local authorities. This includes the timings of UK Government…
, Plenary
Debate: Budget flexibilities and the operation of the UK funding framework
Today I'm pleased that we've been able to reach consensus across the Senedd to jointly table a motion calling on the UK Government to provide greater fiscal flexibility for the Welsh Government in the interests of effective budget management and delivering…
, Plenary
Motion to suspend Standing Orders
I formally move.
, Plenary
Debate: The Police Settlement 2024-25
I, of course, understand the concerns that have been raised about the Wales police schools programme. That wasn't an easy decision by any means, but I think that it's just a really good example—another good example this afternoon—of the tough choices that…
, Plenary
Debate: The Police Settlement 2024-25
Thank you. I'll just begin, really, by recognising the benefits to police and crime commissioners of indicative funding for future years. However, this isn't always feasible and it's not helpful, I know, for commissioners in respect of medium-term financial…
, Plenary
Debate: The Police Settlement 2024-25
Today I'm presenting to the Senedd for its approval details of the Welsh Government's contribution to the core revenue funding for the four police and crime commissioners in Wales for 2024-25. The core funding for the police in Wales is delivered through a…
, Plenary
The Official Statistics (Wales) (Amendment) Order 2024
I just want to reassure colleagues that there has been significant engagement by the chief statistician and her team in respect of the move to giving the new body the status of being the providers of official statistics, and the aim, really, is to ensure that…
, Plenary
The Official Statistics (Wales) (Amendment) Order 2024
Diolch, Llywydd. I am pleased to introduce the Official Statistics (Wales) (Amendment) Order 2024. The power for Welsh Ministers to make the Order is in section 6 of the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 and requires approval by the Senedd. The…
, Plenary
The Non-Domestic Rating (Multiplier) (Wales) Regulations 2024
I'm grateful to both colleagues for their contributions today, and I remember we had a similar contribution from the Conservatives in the debate on the multiplier last year. I just want to be really, really clear that if this motion isn't passed today, the…
, Plenary
The Non-Domestic Rating (Multiplier) (Wales) Regulations 2024
I move the motion to approve the Non-Domestic Rating (Multiplier) (Wales) Regulations 2024. The regulations result in a non-domestic rating multiplier for 2024-25 of 0.562. On 19 December I announced that we would limit the increase in the multiplier for…
, Plenary
Debate on the Local Government and Housing Committee Report, 'Diversity in Local Government'
In a country with such a diverse population, it's important that everyone has faith in the democratic arrangements that deliver the services that they rely on. It's important that the views of all parts of society are represented in the discussion and the…
, Plenary
Debate on the Local Government and Housing Committee Report, 'Diversity in Local Government'
Thank you. I'm pleased to have the opportunity to speak in this debate. I'd also like to thank the Local Government and Housing Committee for its report, which builds on the report that it published in 2019 and looks to recognise the progress that has been…
, Plenary
Topical Questions
I'm very grateful to Mike Hedges for finding the opportunity to raise that particular concern in his question this afternoon. And, yes, we will, obviously continue to consider what more levels of information we are able to provide. I know this is something…
, Plenary
Topical Questions
Yes, so just to reconfirm that, of the £25 million, just over £10 million will be going to restore fully the cuts that were originally made to the social care workforce grant to help manage the overall position and to provide that additional funding for the…
, Plenary
Topical Questions
I'm grateful to Carolyn Thomas for raising these issues today. I know that they were issues that were raised in the debate yesterday, and then we also had a further conversation outside the Chamber as well, to hear the particular concerns that Carolyn is…
, Plenary
Topical Questions
I'm grateful for the question, and again for the welcome that this additional funding is going to local government. There is no evidence to suggest that any authority, or group of authorities, in any particular geographical area of Wales, or any area that has…
, Plenary
Topical Questions
I'm very grateful for the question and particularly for the welcome that I know Plaid Cymru has given to the additional funding going into social services. I know that, listening to Plaid Cymru's responses in respect of the draft budget, social services, and…
, Plenary
Topical Questions
I have formally consulted local authorities on the provisional settlement. Responses to that consultation included requests for the restoration of the social care workforce grant to the value of £45 million. Responses also reflected on a range of pressures…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
Great. Thank you. Diolch.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
I'll just say thank you to the committee for your work, and we're really looking forward to the next steps of our discussion.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
I think that speaks to the wider work that we're doing actually in terms of the Welsh benefits charter, and that includes trying to make information as accessible to people as possible, and local authorities being proactive in sharing information, but then…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
I think, if it were the only way that people were getting information, then certainly, but it's just not reflective of modern life now, I don't think.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
I would say people's access to information is greater than it's ever been, and it's growing all the time, and I think, including in this space, really, in terms of how councils communicate with their local residents. So, I just think that the opportunity to…
