, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Food (Wales) Bill - Evidence session 8
We've got to also remember that this is a framework Bill. It leaves a lot of the further work in the hands of the Government, and the Government can decide, as long as it achieves the expectations of the goal, how it wants to resource areas and how much they…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Food (Wales) Bill - Evidence session 8
The team worked really hard in trying to pull the finance together, and the Scottish model was very helpful in putting together those costings. Now, costings, by their very nature, at this stage are always going to be quite extreme and not exact. They're…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Food (Wales) Bill - Evidence session 8
It's been really helpful, this whole consultation process, and what we're already learning and hearing from stakeholders. And I've always been clear throughout that, where things absolutely make sense, we'll look to amend things. So, I recognise the pressures…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Food (Wales) Bill - Evidence session 8
I was quite surprised to hear that, because this is so fundamentally important for society, for Wales, for food production, food sustainability, the food system in Wales. To suggest that these things shouldn't go ahead because you might not be able to hold an…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Food (Wales) Bill - Evidence session 8
As a past council leader, I would respond in similar ways to many things, when I was approached initially with them, but the costs I've estimated for the Bill were informed by discussions with representatives from Welsh local authorities and health boards…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Food (Wales) Bill - Evidence session 8
Well, no—. Absolutely what we're trying to do here, and what I wanted to do, is to bring some clarity across the whole policy framework here in Wales at the moment, because it's disjointed. Many policy areas don't talk to each other. They're very well meaning…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Food (Wales) Bill - Evidence session 8
No, I've had no further discussions. I'm still hopeful that, through this process, which has been going on a long time, the Minister—and I thank her for her engagement, not only with me to date, but also through the committee structures—. I'm grateful to the…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Food (Wales) Bill - Evidence session 8
Well, I would expect a food and drink federation to come with those sorts of views. It has to speak for its members as a union might speak for its members. Any concerns that it might put additional pressure on retailers, or whatever, obviously flows through…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Food (Wales) Bill - Evidence session 8
Well, I totally believe it will make a difference, but I absolutely agree that there are no quick fixes to the issues we set out in the EM. Many of the issues that we are grappling with have evolved over many years, hence the need to have some legislation in…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Food (Wales) Bill - Evidence session 8
Well, we only got to see the letter, where I know that the past Chair had asked the Minister to describe how she believed current policies were aligned to food goals—. I haven't had a real opportunity to study it in great depth, but I think what it…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Food (Wales) Bill - Evidence session 8
Yes. Thank you.
, Plenary
Debate: The Final Budget 2023-24
I could have finished then, Chair. So, with all of the things I've shared there, I'm afraid that this group will not be supporting this budget today for all of those reasons.
, Plenary
Debate: The Final Budget 2023-24
I've nearly finished. The rising cost of living—
, Plenary
Debate: The Final Budget 2023-24
Why are Labour and Plaid so transfixed with wasting over £100 million on new politicians in this place, rather than addressing the real struggles that the many people of Wales are facing? Things need to be different. Rather than more of the same tax and spend…
, Plenary
Debate: The Final Budget 2023-24
Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. And—
, Plenary
Debate: The Final Budget 2023-24
We must not forget that, for every £1 spent on the health service in England, Labour received £1.20 for Wales. And the same for education: £1 in England, £1.20 in Wales. Yet, we know that, in Wales, even before the pandemic, the Labour Government was only…
, Plenary
Debate: The Final Budget 2023-24
Can I start by thanking the Minister for her statement again? As a past council leader, I know that many of the decisions that have been made by the Minister would not have been easy. However, too much of this budget simply misses the mark. While Labour…
, Plenary
Debate: Welsh Rates of Income Tax 2023-24
Thank you, Minister, for that statement. As I'm sure you know, Minister, Welsh workers take home the lowest pay packets in the United Kingdom—an astonishing £3,000 less than their counterparts in Scotland. The simple fact is that any rise in income tax would…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Second Supplementary Budget 2022-23
It was just recognising the huge pressures we've got in the health service at the moment; we're seeing 75,000 people on those patient pathways. We're not meeting the targets of no-one waiting on a waiting list for a set period. I just wondered what the Welsh…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Second Supplementary Budget 2022-23
Can I have a health question?
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Second Supplementary Budget 2022-23
Sorry about that.
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Second Supplementary Budget 2022-23
And I know this committee has made a recommendation before that you look at the amount of reserves and try to understand better why some of those have been held for such long times with no plans to be drawn down.
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Second Supplementary Budget 2022-23
No, I won't go on about reserves. I think it's a given that the situation over the last couple of years has allowed many authorities to accumulate significant reserves, and we've had that conversation apart. But I think the underlying concern I have is that…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Second Supplementary Budget 2022-23
And it would be remiss of me at this point, mentioning reserves—[Laughter.]
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Second Supplementary Budget 2022-23
Okay. I'll move on to my last question. During this committee's scrutiny of the draft budget 2023-24, we heard about the pressures local authorities were under. I just wondered what consideration had been given to providing additional funding in the…
