, Plenary
Debate: Remembrance
I thank the Government, also, for bringing forward this important debate today. And this time of year signals an immensely important period in our annual calendar, doesn't it? A time where we come together, united in our shared desire to remember and pay our…
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: A&E department performance data
I thank Russell George for opening this really important debate. The importance of meaningful and transparent data in improving patient safety and their care cannot be understated. Without this accountability, we have no idea, do we, of how our NHS is…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Thank you, Minister, for providing some insight into the impact of the education cuts. However, in relation to the target of free school meals roll-out, I still have some reservations over the specific cuts as a result of the reduction in uptake. We know that…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Climate Change
Thank you, Minister. Minister, recent global events have rightly brought energy security to the top of the agenda. The Welsh Government's net-zero plan has steered the focus towards renewable energy production, and I welcome the steps taken to bolster our…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Climate Change
3. What assessment has the Minister made of the accessibility of renewable energy for businesses? OQ60163
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Homelessness
I think this is a really important topic and I think it does deserve for us to debate it regularly. Over the course of the pandemic, action was taken by the Welsh Government—and I commend the Minister for all she was doing—to make sure homeless people were…
, Finance Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
It's just that a lot of us are struggling to understand where the complexity is on the pairing element—it could happen relatively quick; I could do it tomorrow, sort of thing. But I think, you know, understanding the complexity—
, Finance Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
I think it's quite difficult for a lot of people to understand where the costs are for the boundary review, with the pairing side of things, because the boundary commission have already done their work on creating parliamentary—. So, I'm struggling to…
, Finance Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Thank you.
, Finance Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
It's important analysis, because if you want to show cost benefits, if you've got the evidence to demonstrate it, that's one that ought to be recorded.
, Finance Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
You mentioned the auditor general a couple of times and what his analysis and assessments might be. It'd be really useful to understand how he arrived at that, because perhaps we haven't articulated that, the benefits of this, well enough, to justify this…
, Finance Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
I understand that. And my last question is: the RIA notes there would be benefits such as a scrutinising policy and legislation in greater detail but doesn't quantify these. Could you explain why you have not quantified the potential impact of these benefits…
, Finance Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Okay. Thank you for that. You highlighted the indirect financial implications resulting from the Bill, with related costs to Welsh Government being unknown or discretionary. Could you explain why you have not modelled possible scenarios to provide cost ranges…
, Finance Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Thank you, Chair. You made an allocation of £1.2 million for 2024-25 to prepare and implement the new subordinate legislation arising directly from the Bill. How are these costs being treated in your financial accounts to ensure that there is transparency?
, Finance Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Yes—
, Finance Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Yes, thanks. And a supplementary, then, to that. Given there is going to be an increase in Members, and it's designed to reflect the expansion of our legislative competence, why do you assume that there are no additional Welsh Government staff needed to…
, Finance Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Yes, thank you, Chair. We note that the majority of the costs to Welsh Government are going to be opportunity costs resulting from redeploying staff. Have you made some assessment of what impact that's going to have on the Welsh Government? How are you…
, Finance Committee
Public Services Ombudsman for Wales—Scrutiny of Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23, and Estimate 2024-25: Evidence session
Okay. Thank you.
, Finance Committee
Public Services Ombudsman for Wales—Scrutiny of Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23, and Estimate 2024-25: Evidence session
Okay. Great, that makes sense. My final question: so, you’re estimating an increase of between 5 per cent and 12 per cent in cases for 2024-25 but this is based on calculations used for the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Act 2019 and the regulatory impact…
, Finance Committee
Public Services Ombudsman for Wales—Scrutiny of Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23, and Estimate 2024-25: Evidence session
Okay. Well, thanks, Michelle, for that. So, just recognising that your estimate is projecting an about 28 per cent increase in cases and an increase in code of conduct cases, and we talked a bit about that pressure coming forward, how have you—? Can you help…
, Finance Committee
Public Services Ombudsman for Wales—Scrutiny of Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23, and Estimate 2024-25: Evidence session
But your strategic plan isn't undermined. If this estimate didn't happen, your plan still goes ahead—you just might have to alter the nature of it.
, Finance Committee
Public Services Ombudsman for Wales—Scrutiny of Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23, and Estimate 2024-25: Evidence session
It's for some different place, I know. But I had to say it, because I've been wanting to say it for a long time. So, moving on to look at the estimate now, and trying to understand some of the issues that are influencing the development of that, we know—it’s…
, Finance Committee
Public Services Ombudsman for Wales—Scrutiny of Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23, and Estimate 2024-25: Evidence session
A quick remark first, and I'll try to compensate by amalgamating questions. I've always been puzzled, as an ex-council leader, why standards and your function are the way they are, where you do your investigation into standards. It would be useful if…
, Finance Committee
Public Services Ombudsman for Wales—Scrutiny of Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23, and Estimate 2024-25: Evidence session
I was just conscious of the increased workload, and I can only imagine—. I'm sure you're getting an increased amount around health. And of course, each one is important and an individual, but do you find you're duplicating your work many times because of the…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Finance and Local Government: Update on 2023-24 Financial Position
Thank you, Minister, for the statement. I want to begin by acknowledging again that governments across the world are facing difficult choices as a result of global events. I know also, from first-hand experience, that projected deficits present real…
