, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Finance and Local Government
I've mentioned this, Minister, given that Welsh Labour, your Government and Plaid are currently negotiating a co-operation agreement. Yet, Minister, we still do not know what is in the agreement. What will it mean for the Welsh Government's budget in…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Finance and Local Government
Diolch, Llywydd. Good afternoon, Minister. Minister, do you agree with the First Minister's previous claim that Plaid Cymru believes in voodoo economics and has a habit, and I quote again, of 'promising people things that I know are simply not possible'?
, Finance Committee
Public Services Ombudsman for Wales—Scrutiny of Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21, and Estimate 2022-23: Evidence session
Can I echo that as a past council leader of many years and since left that role? it's been invaluable having the ombudsman's office there to give us that reassurance and that backing.
, Finance Committee
Public Services Ombudsman for Wales—Scrutiny of Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21, and Estimate 2022-23: Evidence session
And one final point from me, you'll be glad to know, I just wondered how the estimate reflects the improvement areas identified in your annual report, such as increasing oral complaints and making potential complainants more aware of the ombudsman's role.
, Finance Committee
Public Services Ombudsman for Wales—Scrutiny of Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21, and Estimate 2022-23: Evidence session
Yes, do.
, Finance Committee
Public Services Ombudsman for Wales—Scrutiny of Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21, and Estimate 2022-23: Evidence session
Right, okay.
, Finance Committee
Public Services Ombudsman for Wales—Scrutiny of Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21, and Estimate 2022-23: Evidence session
So, could you help me understand that a bit more? So, as front-line staff with oncosts, what are they? How much is it? So, front-line staff, what does that work out at, for those staff?
, Finance Committee
Public Services Ombudsman for Wales—Scrutiny of Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21, and Estimate 2022-23: Evidence session
Thanks for that. I'll park that one now, but I wouldn't mind just looking into a couple of specific changes in costs, and to explore out some of the staffing levels a little bit more, because you're suggesting they need to rise—we just heard that—and there's…
, Finance Committee
Public Services Ombudsman for Wales—Scrutiny of Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21, and Estimate 2022-23: Evidence session
Yes, thanks, Peredur, that was useful to hear that. Just coming back to—. So, we've got your projection of a 5 per cent increase. Is that based on any firm evidence, or is it pretty sort of—I wouldn't say 'plucked out of the air'. Excuse me for being…
, Finance Committee
Public Services Ombudsman for Wales—Scrutiny of Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21, and Estimate 2022-23: Evidence session
Thanks for that. I know, Nick, you talked a little bit just now about the need for an increase of 5 per cent. I wonder how we explain that 5 per cent is really necessary to meet the projected increase in case load for 2022-23. I know it's increased by 20 per…
, Finance Committee
Public Services Ombudsman for Wales—Scrutiny of Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21, and Estimate 2022-23: Evidence session
Okay, well, thanks for that. I'm going to push on a little bit more around some of that budgetary stuff. Could you give me an understanding of why we have an overspend of 2.2 per cent for 2021-22, given that you report that nearly 80 per cent of the costs are…
, Finance Committee
Public Services Ombudsman for Wales—Scrutiny of Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21, and Estimate 2022-23: Evidence session
Thanks for that. It's helpful to get an understanding of how that was moving. Did you want me to move on to—? Perhaps if I could move this on into looking at the estimate for 2022-23. I wouldn't mind exploring out how the increase of over 5 per cent in the…
, Finance Committee
Public Services Ombudsman for Wales—Scrutiny of Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21, and Estimate 2022-23: Evidence session
Thank you. I absolutely agree with that. I don't think there should be any organisation—certainly no public organisation—that isn't outcome focused for their staff, if they truly believe in the well-being of their staff. It's balancing that change, though…
, Finance Committee
Public Services Ombudsman for Wales—Scrutiny of Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21, and Estimate 2022-23: Evidence session
Thank you, Chair. If I could just follow on that theme a little bit, I think it was really interesting to know what you've been doing around staff and, Nick, those latest stats. I think it enforces now the need for a survey to just find out the lessons…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Thank you, First Minister, for that answer. I'd like to welcome the work that the Welsh Government is doing to support vulnerable people, and I particularly want to pay tribute to our charities and other third sector organisations that are doing some…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
1. How will the Welsh Government support vulnerable people over the winter months? OQ57008
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Senedd Commission Draft Budget 2022-23: Evidence session
Thank you. That's all from me, Peredur.
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Senedd Commission Draft Budget 2022-23: Evidence session
No, I know—
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Senedd Commission Draft Budget 2022-23: Evidence session
—and that flexibility for all of our workforce and understanding their needs is going to be fundamental. I just wonder: have we assessed any of the financial impact of flexible working? I think we've probably covered this as well, but what does this actually…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Senedd Commission Draft Budget 2022-23: Evidence session
Thank you, Manon. You've covered the next point I was going to raise, because I think a lot of us have real concerns about the well-being of our staff at home. For some, this system might be really great for them, but for others, it could be putting a…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Senedd Commission Draft Budget 2022-23: Evidence session
Thank you, Manon. Could you give a further insight into how the staffing capacity of the Commission is positioned to be able to respond to some of those other new differing demands, such as the internal market Act? You've already covered some of the Senedd…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Senedd Commission Draft Budget 2022-23: Evidence session
Thank you. Yes, it is surprising, isn't it, that that accrued leave isn't reducing as normality comes back, and that deeper understanding is going to be important, because of how people are viewing holidays now when they're working from home, because of that…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Senedd Commission Draft Budget 2022-23: Evidence session
Yes, and I dare say the Commission will want to be flexible. If you see an opportunity to do something sooner, you might reprioritise, but, of course, you have to get a plan down, and I understand that. That's sustainability covered. I want to move on to…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Senedd Commission Draft Budget 2022-23: Evidence session
Thanks for that, Ken. So, there's not a huge overhead for us to carry at the moment in the draft budget, then. I can see that. I suppose I'm also trying to understand—and perhaps it's not for this committee to ask these questions, perhaps it was for the…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Senedd Commission Draft Budget 2022-23: Evidence session
Good morning, all. It's great to be with you. Just to finish on that last point, it's just a shame we didn't buy the building 20 years ago, isn't it? Because that asset—just think what that would be on our books now. That asset is always going to be hugely…
