, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
3. How is the Welsh Government supporting veterans to access public services? OQ60622
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Local government funding
Will you agree with me that a significant part of the useable reserves that local authorities hold is earmarked reserves? And do you agree with me that many of those earmarked reserves get inflated each year, and many haven't been drawn off for perhaps five…
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Local government funding
Yes, I will. That 7.5 per cent a year will roll forward, and future increases will be added, and, before you know it, you'll see 20, 25 per cent increases. This is why the Welsh Government must work with local authorities to find a way to keep council tax as…
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Local government funding
Our Welsh councils are so fundamentally important to the lives of Welsh people, and I have nothing but respect for what they do and all who work and provide the services we depend on. There's no dissent of these benches about that. They are right at the…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Finance and Local Government
I recognise it's about choices, and I would hope that the Government would recognise the real importance of the economy as a fundamental part of what we should be prioritising. Because thriving businesses create tax, tax that funds local businesses, and this…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Finance and Local Government
Thank you for that, Minister. I did a little bit of research, obviously, as I would have done, to see how generous our packages are. And whilst there is that discretionary relief fund for smaller businesses, when you look and analyse what's on offer in…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Finance and Local Government
Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. I'm going to be building on a little of what Luke has said, and Janet's already come forward. This is such an important issue for us, and all of our inboxes are demonstrating that at the moment. Minister, I appreciate how hard it's…
, Plenary
Business Statement and Announcement
Trefnydd, could I request a statement from yourself, as the Minister for rural affairs, on an update on Government actions taken on food policy? We're coming up to eight months since the Food (Wales) Bill fell, and I, alongside sector stakeholders, are…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
First Minister, we would all agree that we would like to see more money, but unlike in Scotland, your party agreed to a comparable model of funding for Wales with a needs-based Barnett bonus. We know that this gives Wales at least 15 per cent extra funding…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 8
Thank you. I had to raise it on their behalf.
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 8
—on local government, because, obviously, they came in today, and we heard, quite passionately, from several leaders. They always are passionate, but they are genuinely up against it at the moment. We're already seeing draft budgets with significant—really…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 8
Yes, I was only going to pick up on one further one—
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 8
I see. Just one last little one from me. Do you share the future generations commissioner’s concern that this budget could reduce the type of innovative and bold initiatives and decisions that their office has applauded in the past?
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 8
One of the key things I think we heard today was the lack of being able to set medium-term financial plans because of not having figures for three years, which is counter-productive to a preventative agenda. It will become clear, I'm sure, but, whilst the…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 8
I see that. A couple more questions from me, Chair. I just wondered how you'd respond to the comments from witnesses that this budget sees a shift from preventative spend into acute. How do you track progression to demonstrate your budget is becoming more…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 8
Would some of those observations you've made influence some of the decisions you made when you put the budget together as you took some of those points on board? Some people might think that you haven't considered them enough, but can we take reassurance that…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 8
Recognising all of that significant engagement, what assessment have you made of the different inflationary pressures on the range of public delivery partners? I know we've heard from childcare and social service providers that are impacted massively by the…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 8
On to the bit I was going to ask you. When we look at the budget narrative, it says that you've had to make some incredibly difficult decisions—and I can see that—and to refocus your spending plans on those public services that matter most to people. Could…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 8
Yes. And it was a really consistent message through most of our stakeholders today, I think. Anyway, that wasn't what I was supposed to ask you, but I think it's important that you know—you'd probably already heard it. The other thing, I think, from the…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 8
You're coming to me anyway. Just to expand on that a bit, because local government colleagues were very welcoming of the 3.1 per cent, even though they recognise it was nowhere near what they needed to cover their pressures. I think it gives about £170…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 8
On the same point, I know what Peredur is asking for. It's a bit like what you'll find in local government—you'll have quarterly budget monitoring reports that are open to the public and challengeable. We know they're out of date, but you've got this…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 8
I think you've just explained very well why it's really hard for opposition groups to put an alternative budget together. I used to challenge my opposition to do it, and they couldn't do it, because I didn't give them access to all of the budget lines and all…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 8
I think it was, yes. It was perhaps not a good idea.
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 8
It's £280 million.
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 8
What does the ready reckoner say on 1p on the basic rate?
