, Plenary
Debate on a Statement: The Draft Budget 2022-23
Diolch, Deputy Llywydd. Can I thank you, Minister, for your statement today? The past two years have been some of the most difficult that we have experienced. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected us all, restrictions have curtailed our freedoms, vast swathes of…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
I do recognise that there are a number of things as a result of the pandemic that are putting pressure on people's incomes, and that is something that all Governments need to work together to tackle. First Minister, I do want to ask about what more the Welsh…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Instruments that raise issues to be reported to the Senedd under Standing Order 21.2 or 21.3
I think that's very helpful, Chair. I thought that would be the answer, but I thought it was important as people looking in, when we discuss these sorts of things, might wonder why we're not challenging them, and I think you've explained that well.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Instruments that raise issues to be reported to the Senedd under Standing Order 21.2 or 21.3
Thank you, Chair. It's only really that I'm not sure where we would raise an issue regarding some of these travel arrangements, as, at the moment, we're seeing people—I know a lot of colleagues will be receiving concerns from members of the public who can't…
, Plenary
Statement by the First Minister: Update on COVID-19
Thank you for taking questions, First Minister. As we know, the UK Government has made available nearly £9 billion to tackle COVID-19 in Wales to date, and we know that there's an additional £270 million coming to Wales to spend on the booster campaign and…
, Finance Committee
Welsh Tax Acts etc. (Power to Modify) Bill: Evidence session 1
A final question from me. The Bill does not include any review period in order to assess how effective the legislation is. I just wondered whether the Government will periodically be reviewing the legislation to determine if it is fit for purpose.
, Finance Committee
Welsh Tax Acts etc. (Power to Modify) Bill: Evidence session 1
Okay. Thank you, Minister. If I could move on quickly to some questions about the made affirmative procedure, I just really want to understand the rationale for including a 60-day scrutiny period for made affirmative regulations to take permanent effect and…
, Finance Committee
Welsh Tax Acts etc. (Power to Modify) Bill: Evidence session 1
I recognise that Ministers may have to act, at times, quickly, but I think you'll agree with me that scrutiny is a fundamental part of the governance of any administration, and clearly important for our Senedd. So, do you think it's appropriate that the Bill…
, Finance Committee
Welsh Tax Acts etc. (Power to Modify) Bill: Evidence session 1
Thanks, Minister. I'll move on to section 3 of the Bill where it requires you to publish a statement of your policy to make regulations that have retrospective effect. I'm going to focus on the scrutiny element. What role should the Senedd have in…
, Finance Committee
Welsh Tax Acts etc. (Power to Modify) Bill: Evidence session 1
Thanks, Chair. Minister, I'm just going to reflect quickly, or ask a couple of questions, on section 2, about legislative changes made retrospectively, and just to understand what compliance the Bill has with the convention rights, particularly in relation to…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2022-23: Evidence session 1
I'd just like to put on record that Monmouthshire is the only Conservative-controlled council in Wales—properly controlled—that didn't receive any levelling-up funding. I'm just assuming—. I note the Government's hostility to future interaction with the UK…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2022-23: Evidence session 1
Just a quick one on the local government settlement, and I think it's well recognised that it's a far better settlement. I think there will be clarity needed to understand what year 2 and 3 look like within that £750 million allocation. I'm conscious it's…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2022-23: Evidence session 1
Thanks very much; thank you, Minister. Thank you, Peredur.
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2022-23: Evidence session 1
Yes, thank you, and the allocations are welcomed, I'm sure, by everybody, and we've seen how that's been apportioned broadly in the budget. One thing that I'm sure lots of Members and the public will want to try and understand is how those key areas of…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2022-23: Evidence session 1
So, conversations were probably going on for a long time in advance of the budget to enable you to smooth that situation a little. If I can move on to climate change then, and carbon reduction, I just want to understand: how has the approach to decision…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2022-23: Evidence session 1
Yes, thank you, and obviously now we've seen the budget, we obviously see some of those headlines. I think there needs to be a bit more clarity and committees will pick this up as we go forward—things like free school meals allocation, understanding what that…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2022-23: Evidence session 1
Thank you. We look forward to further updates on that, then. I'm going to move us on, if it's okay, to looking at the impacts of the co-operation agreement. I note that Wales Fiscal Analysis estimates that there will be 'significant additional spending…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2022-23: Evidence session 1
Thanks, Minister. You've discussed with the committee previously around difficulties with the process in setting a devolved tax in relation to proposed vacant land tax. Can you give us any further update on any developments in that area?
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2022-23: Evidence session 1
Thank you for that. What sort of preparedness have you been putting in place to look at the revaluation of non-domestic rates for this future year? Have you got some plans on that? Is there some work going on?
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2022-23: Evidence session 1
Thanks for that, Minister. I think everybody would be very welcoming of that additional support for businesses through what is such a challenging period. Obviously, when we get to the end of that support, there could be, possibly, a cliff edge. How are you…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2022-23: Evidence session 1
Yes. Well, formally, good morning, Minister. It's good to be here today. I've got a few questions. Firstly—. I'll go straight into them. On domestic rates, could you give us a flavour of what the changes are going to be with that and what impact you believe…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2022-23: Evidence session 1
So, £505 million that we're hoping to carry over. Are we saying then, if that's not agreed, we lose that money?
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2022-23: Evidence session 1
Yes, just very quickly on that point, can we be clear—there's £550 million that we're—
, Finance Committee
Introductions, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest
Yes, the same, just in case we start talking about local government funding.
, Finance Committee
Public Services Ombudsman for Wales—Pre-nomination hearing
Thanks, Michelle. That's all from me.
