, Finance Committee
Second Supplementary Budget 2026-27: Evidence Session
Can I just ask, as far as local government is concerned, two questions, really? One, are you satisfied that the allocation formula for the additional ALN funding is fair and appropriate? Because I've been made aware of concerns from council leaders suggesting…
, Finance Committee
Second Supplementary Budget 2026-27: Evidence Session
Thanks, Chair. I think it's fair to acknowledge that I have had conversations with the Minister in relation to agreeing a way forward on the supplementary budget. I'm grateful for those conversations and grateful that, with the additional funding made…
, Plenary
Short Debate: Full-face coverings are against British values
We've heard a lot of nonsense tonight. What I haven't heard is any condemnation of the masked mobs who stormed RNLI stations across the south coast last month. Would you join me, Minister, in condemning those protesters and agree with me that a fine…
, Plenary
Short Debate: Full-face coverings are against British values
Will you take an intervention, Minister?
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Finance: An Update on Council Tax
The moral case for implementing council tax reform 'is overwhelming, and given the continued financial pressure facing households across the length and breadth of our nation, now is the time to strike whilst the iron's hot.' Not my words, Minister, but the…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Finance: Taxation (Wales) Bill
As the Bill progresses, there will be further opportunities to scrutinise the details of this Bill, but I'd like to ask a few initial questions to the Cabinet Minister. With regard to sharing information, the Bill allows the Welsh Revenue Authority to share…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Finance: Taxation (Wales) Bill
In Government, Welsh Labour laid the foundations of Wales's devolved tax system. Our taxation policy was based on the clear principles that Welsh taxes should raise revenue to fund public services as fairly as possible; that they should be clear, stable and…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Finance: Taxation (Wales) Bill
May I thank the Minister for the statement and congratulate her on introducing the first piece of legislation of the seventh Senedd?
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Finance
Welsh Labour's manifesto made a commitment to ensuring that businesses receiving Welsh Government support pay the real living wage. I've asked previously whether businesses funded through the childcare offer will be mandated to pay the real living wage. I've…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Finance
Thanks. I didn't hear a figure there of what the overspend had declined by, so perhaps we could correspond by letter on that. One of your priorities as a Government is the childcare offer. One of our priorities is to ensure fair pay in the economy.
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Finance
If I can just put this across. A month or two ago, the net annual deficit forecast for health boards was £333 million. What is that figure now? Have you managed to get that figure down, so that we can unlock additional funding for schools and colleges?
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Finance
We are clear that this money is an important down payment, but it's not enough. Further funding is required. You have spoken previously about your concerns about in-year overspends within the NHS and so the need to hold money back, unallocated, to address…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Finance
Thanks, Dirprwy Lywydd. May I wish you both a happy shwmae? Minister, as we've already heard, the major news this week was the agreement on the supplementary budget. May I thank you personally for your meetings with me and the fact that we've been able to…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution: The next steps for the Glyndŵr National Park (Designation) Order
Just yesterday I chaired the cross-party group on outdoor activities, where there was a unanimous view around the table on how vital and underappreciated access to the countryside is. We know what the RSPB have said about Wales being one of the most…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution: The next steps for the Glyndŵr National Park (Designation) Order
Well, what a disappointing statement. Anyone who has walked along the Berwyn mountains, as I have done, will know how unique and special an environment it is: Cadair Berwyn, Llyn Lluncaws, Pistyll Rhaeadr, Cyrniau Nod, to name just a few places. These are…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
First Minister, what steps are you taking, working with the UK Government, Ofgem and network operators, to ensure that connection costs and waiting times don't prevent these projects, be they community or larger scale, from progressing? We need that grid…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Community energy schemes, like larger schemes, also require access to the grid. I want to see sustainable schemes and the grid infrastructure being delivered across Wales in order to deliver the benefits that we want to see for our local communities.
, Legislation Committee
Instruments that raise issues to be reported to the Senedd under Standing Order 21.2 or 21.3
While agreeing with that point on fair market value, I would also support writing a letter on the merits scrutiny points regarding the software. I thought the response from the Welsh Government was quite dismissive, actually, of what is a—. I think it's…
, Finance Committee
Public Services Ombudsman for Wales- Annual Report and Accounts 2025-26, and Estimate 2027-28: Evidence session
Thank you. And that, I guess, brings me back to your role, the ombudsman's role, in supporting improvement within the different organisations that you work with, so that, in a different financial context, you're supporting them to actually save some time and…
, Finance Committee
Public Services Ombudsman for Wales- Annual Report and Accounts 2025-26, and Estimate 2027-28: Evidence session
Exemplars?
, Finance Committee
Public Services Ombudsman for Wales- Annual Report and Accounts 2025-26, and Estimate 2027-28: Evidence session
And then, just looking at the budget in the round, you've mentioned the reduction in pension contributions, which is obviously favourable. Without that change, obviously the percentage increase in your budget would be greater. I just wonder whether you…
, Finance Committee
Public Services Ombudsman for Wales- Annual Report and Accounts 2025-26, and Estimate 2027-28: Evidence session
So, picking up Lyn's line of questioning about case-load management, but looking specifically at some of the expenditure around it, I think, in 2025-26, the spend on computer services was increased from £405,000 to £438,000, as part of an investment into a…
, Finance Committee
Public Services Ombudsman for Wales- Annual Report and Accounts 2025-26, and Estimate 2027-28: Evidence session
Fine. I've got some questions on looking forward, but they can wait, I guess.
, Finance Committee
Public Services Ombudsman for Wales- Annual Report and Accounts 2025-26, and Estimate 2027-28: Evidence session
Can you explain what's going on there?
, Finance Committee
Public Services Ombudsman for Wales- Annual Report and Accounts 2025-26, and Estimate 2027-28: Evidence session
And then sticking with the accounts—so, I think I'm now on pack page 216—on provision for liabilities and charges, there were nearly £200,000 of provisions utilised this year in relation, I think, to the pension for former commissioners and dilapidation…
