, Finance Committee
Fiscal Intergovernmental Relations: Evidence session 1
Thank you. You've almost answered my final question, but obviously in terms of—you mentioned Smith, and the Gordon Brown report also concurred; I don't know if you've had sight of that—the authority there in Scotland being transferred equally in terms of the…
, Finance Committee
Fiscal Intergovernmental Relations: Evidence session 1
Absolutely, totally agree. In regard to the mechanism for introducing the new devolved taxes, the Welsh Government has submitted a request to the UK Treasury to devolve powers for the vacant land tax; no progress has been made. Is this symptomatic? I mean, no…
, Finance Committee
Fiscal Intergovernmental Relations: Evidence session 1
Absolutely, and I completely concur. The commissioners recommended that the UK Government considers a solution similar to the COVID guarantee to give devolved Governments that element of certainty that we have not had, and still don't have, about the funding…
, Finance Committee
Fiscal Intergovernmental Relations: Evidence session 1
Thank you, Chair. Thank you for your very direct answers to our questions. In regard, then, to the overall thematic—just a quick one, if I may, and it's more of a comment, in a sense—there is a feeling that there is a lack of fundamental respect for a mature…
, Finance Committee
Fiscal Intergovernmental Relations: Evidence session 1
Very briefly, and picking up on what you said in terms of the lack of use of the current dispute resolution mechanism, is that mechanism fit for purpose? You've hinted already in terms of the Treasury's ownership around this. What's your simplistic view on…
, Plenary
Statement by the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership: International Women’s Day
Deputy Minister, in your statement you rightly highlight that women are fundamental to the foundations of devolution and the backbone of our economy. So, what do you feel are the biggest challenges for women and girls in the short, medium and long term in…
, Plenary
Statement by the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership: International Women’s Day
Deputy Minister, thank you for your statement. International Women's Day is that annual occasion to rightly mark and celebrate the achievements of women and girls everywhere across the globe, and it allows us to focus in and recognise that many women and…
, Plenary
Debate: The Local Government Settlement 2024-25
Will you take an intervention?
, Plenary
Debate: The Local Government Settlement 2024-25
Thank you, Deputy Llywydd. So, Minister, will you use this opportunity to underscore, once again, how dedicated the Welsh Labour Government is to funding Welsh local government under the most dire circumstances, and that it values local government, and that…
, Plenary
Debate: The Local Government Settlement 2024-25
If I can just respond to that, I think if you actually look at the amounts of money that we are talking about, if we look at the billions that we have lost, and then if you look at some of the issues that you've brought to us on your agenda today, you'll find…
, Plenary
Debate: The Local Government Settlement 2024-25
Minister, I do welcome the Welsh Labour Government's continued dedication to prioritise protecting core front-line public services as far as is possible in the face of extreme budgetary pressures to Wales. This commitment is values-based and cognisant of the…
, Plenary
Debate: The Final Budget 2024-25
The 2024-25 budget round has presented the most stark and most painful budget choices for Wales in the quarter of a century since the dawn of devolution. The Tories have fundamentally mismanaged the UK economy over the last 14 years, giving us more than a…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Second Supplementary Budget 2023-24
Yes. Sorry, Chair, you shouldn't have asked me if I had any other questions. I don't know—. The circumstances are very different, but in terms of both the Wales Audit Office and the other request around the supplementary budget for more money, compared to the…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Second Supplementary Budget 2023-24
No, I'm okay. It's just, obviously, £16.5 million as an almost desktop exercise is quite a large amount, but, no, that's fine. Thank you, Chair.
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Second Supplementary Budget 2023-24
Okay. Thank you very much, Chair.
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Second Supplementary Budget 2023-24
And potentially, those—. Obviously, savings have to come from somewhere, but, in terms of the detriment of having made those savings, could you point to any?
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Second Supplementary Budget 2023-24
Thank you, Chair. Minister, you've transferred £16.5 million to reserves from the resources budget in the central services and administration MEG, which is said relates to the in-year savings exercise. How have these savings been delivered, and are they…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Second Supplementary Budget 2023-24
Thank you. And how are you monitoring the affordability and sustainability of the Transport for Wales allocations announced in the financial update and included within this supplementary budget?
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Second Supplementary Budget 2023-24
I said—. No, that's absolutely fine, and, obviously, those conversations are very tough and that local government budget has been protected as much as it can, in my personal view. In the supplementary budget, Minister, you allocate UK Government funding for…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Second Supplementary Budget 2023-24
Thank you. One moment, please. What assurances do you have, Minister, from the education Minister that the funding provided in this supplementary budget is sufficient to cover cost pressures in schools and will avoid the reported reduction in the hours of…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Second Supplementary Budget 2023-24
Am I unmuted?
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Second Supplementary Budget 2023-24
When we talk to the health Minister, I think pay pressures will be one of the key things that she regularly talks about, and then those particular areas that she's asked the NHS to focus on. Those are the kinds of discussions that we have. Often, those…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Second Supplementary Budget 2023-24
Yes, I did, very briefly. Obviously, on this occasion, it has been more positive, but in terms of the machinations and the follow-through in terms of input, in terms of you, Minister, and the officials, how normal is this in terms of how other legislatures…
, Finance Committee
Financial Implications of the Residential Outdoor Education (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
Okay, I'm thinking more about arranging it, but that's fine. Thank you very much, very full answers. Thank you, Chair.
, Finance Committee
Financial Implications of the Residential Outdoor Education (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
But—[Inaudible.]—cost of that, isn't it, and Estyn would have a cost to inspect around centres. So, is there an in-build of that cost within this Bill?
