, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: The health budget
I met with the chief executive of the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, Nicola Prygodzicz, this week to discuss the very real issues revolving around healthcare in Gwent and, actually, across the UK. The Aneurin Bevan University Health Board stated…
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: The health budget
Do you not see any interconnectivity between the relationship and the union of the devolved nations with the UK Government and the interplay of the fact that we rely, vastly, majoritively, on the UK Treasury for what comes into Wales, and that's been depleted?
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: The health budget
Will you take an intervention, Joel?
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
Thank you, Minister. On Sunday, Wilko's Blackwood store closed its doors for the final time, following the company's financial collapse. In a capitalist economy, ultimately it is private business and the marketplace that dictate how business is transacted and…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
4. What action is the Welsh Government taking to support the economic vitality of high streets in Islwyn? OQ59925
, Finance Committee
Audit Wales—Scrutiny of the Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23 and the Annual Plan 2024-25: Evidence session
Thank you very much.
, Finance Committee
Audit Wales—Scrutiny of the Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23 and the Annual Plan 2024-25: Evidence session
Okay. So, I move on to my final question, and we'll write to you with the others. In regard to the office move and the underspend on capital that was requested, how are you going to ensure that capital requests are an accurate representation of your capital…
, Finance Committee
Audit Wales—Scrutiny of the Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23 and the Annual Plan 2024-25: Evidence session
Yes, that's fine.
, Finance Committee
Audit Wales—Scrutiny of the Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23 and the Annual Plan 2024-25: Evidence session
That's fine, if you could write with that, just so that we can get a sense of scale as to whether the majority would be the general flux in terms of traineeships, or whether—. I get the sense, in terms of what you've already said, that it is more serious than…
, Finance Committee
Audit Wales—Scrutiny of the Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23 and the Annual Plan 2024-25: Evidence session
So, out of the 15 per cent, how many of those are qualified audit staff?
, Finance Committee
Audit Wales—Scrutiny of the Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23 and the Annual Plan 2024-25: Evidence session
Brilliant. Thank you so much. Next question: I hear your point in regard to staff turnover in terms of trainees and graduates, but in regard to the scale, really, of the qualified audit staff being retained by the organisation—that's up—just a little bit of…
, Finance Committee
Audit Wales—Scrutiny of the Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23 and the Annual Plan 2024-25: Evidence session
So, on that, is there anything additional—[Inaudible.]?
, Finance Committee
Audit Wales—Scrutiny of the Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23 and the Annual Plan 2024-25: Evidence session
Okay. In regard to that list of mitigations, these are ongoing or are they being beefed up now in regard to the concern around audit quality?
, Finance Committee
Audit Wales—Scrutiny of the Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23 and the Annual Plan 2024-25: Evidence session
And so, in regard to mitigations, briefly, because I've got a number of other questions, outside of the resourcing issues, which you've gone through, the issue around audit quality—obviously, you've made the comments, previously, in terms of what's happening…
, Finance Committee
Audit Wales—Scrutiny of the Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23 and the Annual Plan 2024-25: Evidence session
Yes. I'm just trying to get clarity on what is the major risk that's been identified, and I believe that's resourcing. I need you to clarify that, and, then, can you articulate what the likely risks are before you talk about the mitigations?
, Finance Committee
Audit Wales—Scrutiny of the Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23 and the Annual Plan 2024-25: Evidence session
So that I'm clear, the major risk that you've identified is resourcing. And, then, can you just articulate what the likely risks are before you talk about the mitigation around resourcing?
, Finance Committee
Audit Wales—Scrutiny of the Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23 and the Annual Plan 2024-25: Evidence session
Sorry to interrupt you, auditor general—
, Finance Committee
Audit Wales—Scrutiny of the Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23 and the Annual Plan 2024-25: Evidence session
Thank you; that's useful information. In regard to articulation of what the risks that are highlighted are, some are 'likely' and one is 'major', of impact as identified, whereas, previously, I don't think there were any in those categories. Can you provide…
, Finance Committee
Audit Wales—Scrutiny of the Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23 and the Annual Plan 2024-25: Evidence session
Thank you, Chair, for that. So, 2022-23 was the first year of the new internal audit arrangements, and the new auditors classified one report, in relation to internal stakeholder engagement, as 'limited assurance'. What issues were identified? You've…
, Finance Committee
Audit Wales—Scrutiny of the Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23 and the Annual Plan 2024-25: Evidence session
All good.
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Maximising EU Funding - Evidence Session with Welsh Government
I totally understand that, but this question is scoped around the Audit Wales 2022 report work, and it does specifically mention interpretation of scheme rules and administrative mistakes pertaining to that. So, if you could just write to us with that, Chair…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Maximising EU Funding - Evidence Session with Welsh Government
The position of the Audit Wales 2022 audit work, but I would presume that would include the accounts. But in it, there was a segment on the administrative mistakes category, and that was around interpretation of the RDP scheme rules and regulations. I don't…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Maximising EU Funding - Evidence Session with Welsh Government
Excellent. And, then, in regard to the rural development programme, whether the Welsh Government has seen any further reduction in the number of administrative mistakes relating to the interpretation of the RDP scheme rules. And that's since the position…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Maximising EU Funding - Evidence Session with Welsh Government
No, thank you for explaining the position there. I think that's interesting, and, obviously, it shows, doesn't it, the dynamic fluidity of the situation in terms of understanding that this is a last approach for these types of funding at the moment, as we…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Maximising EU Funding - Evidence Session with Welsh Government
Yes, carry on, Hugh.
