, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: evidence session with the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism and the Minister for Economy
I don’t think we’re trying to say that there are forensic cuts that have no impact. We’ve never said that. Our budget analysis does not say that, because that would not be true. I accept that, for every reduction that is made, there is a direct consequence…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: evidence session with the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism and the Minister for Economy
I accept that. It's unavoidable.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: evidence session with the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism and the Minister for Economy
Indeed, yes. We regularly talk about it. It's true.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: evidence session with the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism and the Minister for Economy
—and you then get to the point where you have to decide, 'Well, if we can't do everything, what do we choose to do? Where's our priority?' That then has a consequence. Otherwise, you don't have any priorities. And there's—. It's a very difficult consequence…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: evidence session with the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism and the Minister for Economy
And I know you see that. So, it's always, 'Is it a better choice to put more money into the health budget and what that means, what we still need to do with the service, and what it means for all of our constituents? Is it better to make sure that we're still…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: evidence session with the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism and the Minister for Economy
'No' is the straight answer, and the reason is I do understand all those determinants around health and health outcomes. The biggest is actually your socioeconomic success or inequality, and everyone in this room knows this. If you have a map of socioeconomic…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: evidence session with the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism and the Minister for Economy
There has been a real impact, and I'm the Minister, so I've got overall responsibility for the department. As all Ministers, we've had that context and we agreed that those would be the big priorities, and how we try to protect our most vulnerable citizens…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: evidence session with the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism and the Minister for Economy
The starting point is that our budget settlement means that we have £1.3 billion less in real terms than two years ago. That's essentially the entire budget of a number of our individual health boards. So, if you think about it, Hywel Dda, with everything it…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: evidence session with the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism and the Minister for Economy
My name is Vaughan Gething. I'm the Minister for Economy.
, Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: Apprenticeships
I'll come back to future apprenticeship funding—I'm very pleased you've made the point. I do, though, want to turn to deal with some of the other points made in the debate. Jack Sargeant was absolutely right, the UK Government designed out the ability of the…
, Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: Apprenticeships
Diolch, Llywydd, and thank you to Members for their contributions from across the Chamber in this debate. There's much to agree upon, in terms of the value of apprenticeships. The challenge, though, is: what does the Government do with the challenges that we…
, Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: Apprenticeships
Formally.
, Plenary
Topical Questions
In respect of the point about DWP, I think I've answered that already. We do work constructively alongside DWP. Locally, every time there has been a significant unemployment event, we have worked very constructively—and my officials are doing that…
, Plenary
Topical Questions
Thank you for the series of questions. I'll try and go through, as helpfully as I can, based on the information, which is limited from the Government's point of view as well. Because I saw the reports myself and I immediately asked officials what the position…
, Plenary
Topical Questions
My officials have been in dialogue with the business since reports emerged. They have also made contact with the administrators and union representatives representing some of the workforce, and are working closely with counterparts from the local authority…
, Plenary
Topical Questions
Thank you for the question.
, Plenary
Debate: Levelling-up
It's one of the sadnesses that, in pragmatic terms, it's undone lots of that good work. It's gone back to a piecemeal approach, it's chosen deliberately not to work with the Welsh Government, to exclude us not just from making decisions about the funds, but…
, Plenary
Debate: Levelling-up
I will.
, Plenary
Debate: Levelling-up
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Can I thank Members who contributed to this debate today, and indeed have maintained scrutiny of this topic in recent years? I welcome the fact that there were a number of constructive contributions from across the Chamber. Looking…
, Plenary
Debate: Levelling-up
Since 2021, the levelling-up fund has been plagued by chaos and delay. Of course, the UK Government initially announced the levelling-up fund as an England-only scheme; they then changed their minds and imposed it on Wales without a squeak of protest from the…
, Plenary
Debate: Levelling-up
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I move the motion before us. It is a sad reality that UK Government levelling-up schemes are failing our people, businesses and communities. These were supposed to replace former EU funds. It is a staggering betrayal of referendum and…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
Yes, we find it very difficult and frustrating, in a sense. When the apprenticeship levy was introduced, the then finance Minister, Mark Drakeford, was told there would be £109 million coming to Wales; he then read that £117 million would be taken away…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
Yes, I set out my four priorities for a stronger economy on 28 November last year. This should enable us to drive forward the economic mission across Wales to recognise the significant economic pressures that we face. However, we put a focus on green growth…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
Thank you. Some Members will know what a BID involves. It involves a bid from local businesses working with their local authorities to then look at priorities for investing in small businesses, and if successful there'll be a levy that everyone pays that then…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
I need to be just direct and upfront about the budget position. We really have got £1.3 billion less in real terms than two years ago, and you can't hide that scale of reduction in our spending power. If we are going, as we have chosen to, to protect the…
