, Finance Committee
Fiscal Intergovernmental Relations: Evidence session 1
Okay. Yes, fine. I was just wondering if you had any deeper perspectives, or perspectives, on the effectiveness of the dispute resolution mechanism to address that imbalance of power between UK and Wales.
, Finance Committee
Fiscal Intergovernmental Relations: Evidence session 1
Well, thanks for that—that was really interesting. I've got a couple more points, but I'm conscious there are quite a lot of questions to ask.
, Finance Committee
Fiscal Intergovernmental Relations: Evidence session 1
Okay to carry on?
, Finance Committee
Fiscal Intergovernmental Relations: Evidence session 1
So, just building on that, did anything that the Holtham review, which brought in the amended fiscal framework in 2017—or 2018 or 2016; I can't remember when it was—where there was an element of needs-based assessment—? Did that help things? Because I know it…
, Finance Committee
Fiscal Intergovernmental Relations: Evidence session 1
Thank you and good morning, Mr Rycroft. It's a really fascinating conversation already, and it seems that politicians are almost an inconvenient truth in all of this, as they probably get in the way. And it probably works on an informal basis when the same…
, Plenary
Debate: The Local Government Settlement 2024-25
It's the same pie—it's how you cut it up.
, Plenary
Debate: The Local Government Settlement 2024-25
I know what an advocate you've been for local government for many years outside of this place, and you've challenged often the level of funding going to Flintshire. Do you agree then that the system is wrong, the formula is wrong, and it would benefit…
, Plenary
Debate: The Local Government Settlement 2024-25
Would you take an intervention?
, Plenary
Debate: The Local Government Settlement 2024-25
Okay, well, lots of leaders and lots of administrations in councils will decide how they arrive at their budget. Some will be more innovative and look at creating income streams in other ways. Others will be led very clearly by their officers and make…
, Plenary
Debate: The Local Government Settlement 2024-25
I certainly will.
, Plenary
Debate: The Local Government Settlement 2024-25
Local authorities play such an incredibly important role in providing services that the people in Wales depend on, and we all thank them for everything they do. True devolution, though, is not just supporting the Senedd; it's about supporting our local…
, Plenary
Debate: The Final Budget 2024-25
No. That's a deflection from Plaid Cymru, to take away from the fact that you've propped this Labour Government and its budgets up for years and years. Sadly, this budget fails to properly address the people's priorities. It lacks the sound, strategic forward…
, Plenary
Debate: The Final Budget 2024-25
This huge disparity for parents in Wales will disadvantage women, whose careers are being held back due to the lack of affordable childcare—again, affecting our economy. It's also disappointing that the harsh cuts to the rural affairs budget are still in…
, Plenary
Debate: The Final Budget 2024-25
I want to begin by thanking all of the committee's stakeholders and members who have contributed to the scrutiny of this budget. It's only through effective scrutiny that good governance and policy making can occur, and I'm pleased to see that the Welsh…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Thank you, First Minister, and, Llywydd, I refer Members to my register of interests. We have all seen the way our rural communities have come together like no other time that I can ever remember, such is the concern, the anxiety and fear for the future that…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
1. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the pressures that Welsh farmers face? OQ60800
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Second Supplementary Budget 2023-24
Thank you, Chair.
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Second Supplementary Budget 2023-24
Thank you, Minister. I look forward to some clarity on that. A final one from me, and we're going to go and explore how the funding and allocations for local government and schools responded to need and pressures. During this committee's scrutiny of the draft…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Second Supplementary Budget 2023-24
Oh, I see. So, the money may still be available; it's just that it'll be used later.
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Second Supplementary Budget 2023-24
Okay. It's difficult when we hear that sort of thing, because it would be very useful to know that—£17 million is a lot of money. If that was used for admin or something like that, that's fine, but if it could have been used for direct services, I have some…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Second Supplementary Budget 2023-24
Thank you for that clarity. One thing that concerns probably quite a lot of people is that the resource allocation for mental health policies was decreased by nearly 20 per cent—£17 million—in the secondary supplementary budget, compared to the first…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Second Supplementary Budget 2023-24
Thank you, Chair. Thank you, Minister, that would be helpful. The supplementary budget also includes £95 million in respect of the recovery payment linked to the 'Agenda for Change' staff pay agreement set last April. Why was the figure not regularised in the…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Second Supplementary Budget 2023-24
Okay, so we're confident, even though there's a £59 million deficit currently, that the Minister is comfortable that they've done all they can to meet their targets, even though there's a remaining deficit for three authorities. I'm just trying to understand…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Second Supplementary Budget 2023-24
Thank you, Chair. Minister, what are the consequences for the Welsh Government's allocations for 2024-25 of local health boards either achieving or not achieving their target control totals since the recurrent funding, announced last November, was conditional…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Second Supplementary Budget 2023-24
Yes, please. I thought somebody had taken my hand down for me. By the way, we can't see the Minister—I don't know why—on the cameras this morning. We're only looking at each other. But anyway, that's an aside. I was just wondering—. We really welcome the…
