18 July 2024 , Finance Committee
Introductions, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest
Welcome back to this meeting of the Finance Committee this morning. This meeting is being broadcast live on Senedd.tv, and a Record of Proceedings will be published as usual. The meeting, of course, is bilingual. I just want to check whether anyone has any…
17 July 2024 , Plenary
Finance Committee Debate: Welsh Government's spending priorities for the 2025-26 budget
I really appreciate the other contributions made by Heledd, Mark, who I mentioned earlier, Sioned, Jenny and Luke. You talked about those issues, and the Finance Committee will keep those in mind as we go through our scrutiny. I hope other Chairs of…
17 July 2024 , Plenary
Finance Committee Debate: Welsh Government's spending priorities for the 2025-26 budget
You talked, Delyth, about the priorities of your committee, and you echoed some of the points raised by Jack and other Members about cuts in the arts and culture sector. Delyth made some powerful points about the impact that a shortage of funding in sporting…
17 July 2024 , Plenary
Finance Committee Debate: Welsh Government's spending priorities for the 2025-26 budget
Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. This has been an excellent debate. I welcome the high number of speakers, which reflects the strength of feeling in this Chamber. I'd first like to thank my fellow committee members, Rhianon, Peter and Mike, who contributed in…
17 July 2024 , Plenary
Finance Committee Debate: Welsh Government's spending priorities for the 2025-26 budget
Dirprwy Lywydd, the participants at all of our events over the last few months have given the committee and the Cabinet Secretary plenty of food for thought. Many of the solutions suggested by stakeholders seem to be win-wins to us in the committee, and we…
17 July 2024 , Plenary
Finance Committee Debate: Welsh Government's spending priorities for the 2025-26 budget
Our fourth priority area relates to spending more efficiently and effectively to build the local economy by creating sustainable jobs, providing better transport links, and building affordable housing. Participants spoke about aligning policy levers so that…
17 July 2024 , Plenary
Finance Committee Debate: Welsh Government's spending priorities for the 2025-26 budget
The importance of building low-carbon and good-quality housing that can be easily adapted for people with disabilities and health conditions was raised. But it came across loud and clear that homes in the right places, close to schools, transport, shops and…
17 July 2024 , Plenary
Finance Committee Debate: Welsh Government's spending priorities for the 2025-26 budget
'Good quality housing should be a basic human right.'
17 July 2024 , Plenary
Finance Committee Debate: Welsh Government's spending priorities for the 2025-26 budget
Thirdly, housing and building communities where young people feel supported to live and work was identified as a key priority. This came through strongly in our citizen focus groups. As one participant put it,
17 July 2024 , Plenary
Finance Committee Debate: Welsh Government's spending priorities for the 2025-26 budget
Dirprwy Lywydd, our engagement work on next year’s budget was made up of three strands: a stakeholder event at Canolfan S4C yr Egin in Caerfyrddin, numerous focus groups with organisations and citizens across Wales, and youth engagement events, including a…
17 July 2024 , Plenary
Finance Committee Debate: Welsh Government's spending priorities for the 2025-26 budget
Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. It's a great pleasure to rise today to open this Finance Committee debate on the Welsh Government’s spending priorities for 2025-26. These debates have become an invaluable tool for us as a committee to relay to the Welsh Government…
17 July 2024 , Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs
As you know, Cabinet Secretary, there have been some tragic incidents involving dogs within my region. Banning the XL bully is one tool that's been deployed, but it's not enough in my view. There needs to be a wholescale change in the culture of dog ownership…
17 July 2024 , Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs
Thank you for that response and that update.
17 July 2024 , Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs
8. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the Government's plans to promote responsible dog ownership? OQ61462
17 July 2024 , Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office
It would be interesting—what was their reaction? Were they positive? Were they negative? Were they saying, 'Well, no, go away'? That would be interesting to know. But ahead of the priorities debate later, where you'll be presented with a wish list of spending…
17 July 2024 , Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office
Thank you for that. I think it would help us if I invoke my inner Mike Hedges and call for you to show your workings, because it's very much that the wording is there but the breakdown of numbers—. So, that would really, really help us, especially if there's…
17 July 2024 , Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office
Diolch, Llywydd. We’ve discussed and argued over the last few years about HS2 funding and, until recently, we had come to a consensus where I think we all agreed in this Chamber that we were owed £4 billion. Even Jo Stevens, in the run up to the election as…
17 July 2024 , Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office
Plaid Cymru has long been a champion of enhanced terms and conditions across the public sector. This is particularly important in the light of the cost-of-living crisis, where many full-time workers have been pushed into poverty. Back in May of this year…
17 July 2024 , Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office
Thank you for that response.
17 July 2024 , Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office
1. What is the Government doing to increase public sector pay in South Wales East? OQ61463
16 July 2024 , Plenary
Stage 4 of The Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill
To begin with, I'd like to thank all the Senedd clerks and the lawyers who've worked diligently through the passage of this Bill, and I'd also like to thank the Cabinet Secretary and Peter Fox for their constructive engagement at each stage. As I've mentioned…
16 July 2024 , Plenary
& 8. The general principles of The Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill and the financial resolution in respect of The Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill
Finally, Llywydd, I'd like to welcome the clarification that costs incurred by local authorities for updating the electoral management system will be reimbursed by the Welsh Government. The Trefnydd has committed to publishing full and robust RIAs alongside…
16 July 2024 , Plenary
& 8. The general principles of The Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill and the financial resolution in respect of The Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill
Before I turn to specific issues on the Bill, I want to highlight a general concern that we have—similar to those expressed today—over the costs associated with a legal challenge should the Bill be referred to the Supreme Court for a determination on the…
16 July 2024 , Plenary
& 8. The general principles of The Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill and the financial resolution in respect of The Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill
Thank you, Llywydd, and I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate, and I am grateful to the Trefnydd and Chief Whip for attending the Finance Committee and for responding to the points we raised through correspondence.
16 July 2024 , Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and Transport: Transport update
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary, for the statement. On behalf of my party, I welcome the contrition in this statement that acknowledges that mistakes were made by the Government in the roll-out of 20 mph, and I’m also pleased to hear that there is a formal…
