, Constitution, Justice and External Affairs Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session: Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution
Yes, I think 'concern' is being polite, Peredur. [Laughter.]
, Constitution, Justice and External Affairs Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session: Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution
I think by and large—. I mean, there's a significant amount of work being done in Welsh Government around the UK internal market Act and around financial assistance powers. We were meeting earlier this week—time blurs—or at the end of last week, to discuss…
, Constitution, Justice and External Affairs Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session: Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution
I think, technically, I'm responsible for the devolution of powers from the UK Government to the Welsh Government.
, Constitution, Justice and External Affairs Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session: Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution
I think that would be a very good question to pose to the Cabinet Minister for Finance, who is responsible for non-domestic, business rates.
, Constitution, Justice and External Affairs Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session: Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution
The Government hasn't taken a position, nor had a discussion, on mayors. It isn't on the table as a live discussion at the moment.
, Constitution, Justice and External Affairs Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session: Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution
The Government hasn't taken a position on it.
, Constitution, Justice and External Affairs Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session: Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution
We haven't formed a view on that, and I think, coming back to my earlier point about consideration within months, the regional aspect in Wales—and I think Lynne's identified a number of the challenges of all of the structures—will need to be addressed in the…
, Constitution, Justice and External Affairs Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session: Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution
I think both you and the previous Member are tempting me to get into areas where the Welsh Government hasn't formed a view on it.
, Constitution, Justice and External Affairs Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session: Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution
As I was saying earlier, I'm meeting the Secretary of State for Wales later. I've had a formal meeting with Hamish Falconer, the Minister for inter-governmental relations. There's another Interministerial Standing Committee coming up in Edinburgh in six…
, Constitution, Justice and External Affairs Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session: Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution
Yes, we exist.
, Constitution, Justice and External Affairs Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session: Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution
Thank you for the kind offer to get into a slanging match with my colleagues in the UK Government. For now, I won't, because I am keen to co-operate and to collaborate with the UK Government to see if the comments made by Andy Burnham are borne out in…
, Constitution, Justice and External Affairs Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session: Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution
I think what I would say in fairness to the new Prime Minister is that he was reflecting his experience of devolution in England in a number of the things he was saying and doing. Having become Prime Minister, there are a range of aspects where he has…
, Constitution, Justice and External Affairs Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session: Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution
I can check on that. There were the initial discussions with UK Government Ministers. I'm not aware of very specific discussions around that topic, unless colleagues would correct me on that.
, Constitution, Justice and External Affairs Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session: Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution
Thank you, Lynne. I'm pausing a little, because I don't want to give a timescale that is unrealistic. Shall I commit to either coming back or writing to you with further thoughts on the regional structure in the spring? That would allow some discussion and…
, Constitution, Justice and External Affairs Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session: Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution
I look forward to Darren's questions, because they may be easier than yours. [Laughter.] Structures and institutions have developed over time and for particular reasons. I don't want to rush in to this. I think we need evidence, we need to be considered in…
, Constitution, Justice and External Affairs Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session: Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution
The simple answer is that the Welsh Government hasn't taken a position on those issues. Clearly, today, local authorities in Wales set different levels of council tax, in accordance with the priorities of those people who have elected them. There are taxes…
, Constitution, Justice and External Affairs Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session: Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution
It's a very good question, if I may say so, from the Member. What's become apparent to me, in receiving this brief within Government, is that there is a patchwork of regions, of maps, authorities and legislation right across the country. And therefore, in…
, Constitution, Justice and External Affairs Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session: Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution
There is a point of principle here first, and it's a very important point of principle—I do think that most people would accept this—namely that governmental arrangements within Wales are a matter for the Welsh Government and the Welsh Parliament. That's how…
, Constitution, Justice and External Affairs Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session: Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution
We have an overview and we have internally a dashboard that we work on on a regular basis. Gareth.
, Constitution, Justice and External Affairs Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session: Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution
Where the Government is. Let me just kind of—. Discussions are ongoing around the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020 and common frameworks, and we're seeking further clarity from the UK Government on that. My colleague, the Cabinet Minister for Finance…
, Constitution, Justice and External Affairs Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session: Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution
Yes, great. Happy to provide that to the committee. Diolch.
, Constitution, Justice and External Affairs Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session: Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution
I didn't go into the 78 recommendations of the Thomas commission in my first conversation with the Home Secretary on Sunday. [Laughter.] I think the question is a broader one about the UK Government, and my view, as of today, is that the new Prime Minister of…
, Constitution, Justice and External Affairs Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session: Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution
Indeed. I'm not going to take some—. I'll take a pause while giving a view on my former academic colleagues in the academic world. My understanding is that he's identified 40 areas where we could make progress. I've asked officials to look at each of those…
, Constitution, Justice and External Affairs Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session: Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution
We're working through the recommendations. I'm working through those recommendations that pertain directly to Welsh Government, and I can write to you on those and how we're looking at them. There are, clearly, a number that will require co-operation with the…
, Constitution, Justice and External Affairs Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session: Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution
The simple answer is 'yes'; I would encourage you to write to us and scrutinise the progress on those recommendations. We had a meeting with Dr Jones a couple of weeks ago, and from that he emphasised that there were particular recommendations that were…
