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'there are a number of review methods available. These include a focus on key issues identified through the assessment, a Critical Friend Review or similar tool from the Welsh Government Policy Gateway and Integrated Assurance Hub, or an internally led Rapid Review.'

Our committee will be making reference to the Welsh Government's risk assessment of its arm's-length bodies in its forthcoming report on the scrutiny of accounts, Welsh Government, 2023-24. Members therefore may wish to reflect on the contents of this letter in that report. The clerking team can help prepare draft revisions to the report for our consideration.

Members, do you have any comments on this letter? May I welcome Adam Price? We're still on paper to note 1, Adam. Members, do you have any comments on the letter received or are you content to note the letter? I think content to note the letter.

So, we shall move on to our second paper to note: public appointments—consideration of Welsh Government's response. We've received a response from the Welsh Government to our report, which will need to be considered in further detail. It is deeply regrettable that the Welsh Government has failed to indicate in their response whether recommendations have been accepted, rejected or even accepted in principle or in part. Indeed, the committee has previously raised concerns with the Welsh Government about recommendations being accepted only in principle, given that the previous Permanent Secretary indicated to our predecessor committee that this practice would be discontinued back in 2018, seven years ago. This further step to not respond in line with existing convention inhibits this committee's ability to scrutinise implementation, and it's therefore of serious concern to myself in role as Chair. I suspect this practice would also be of concern to other committees, Chairs and their members.

This report was prepared on the basis of several in-depth evidence sessions, as you know, and any recommendations were made with a genuine intention to make improvements and to respond to concerns raised with us. Whilst we accept that not all recommendations will be accepted—they rarely are—this is a troubling development, and we will be pursuing this further with the Welsh Government as a matter of priority. In instances where recommendations are rejected, we would expect, in the interest of accountability, for this rejection to be clearly flagged in the Welsh Government's response, and a full explanation of the reasons for rejection to be provided. There will be a committee debate on the contents of the report on 25 June, providing an opportunity to reflect on the Welsh Government's response, as part of that session. Members, at this stage—we will be revisiting this later in private—do you have any comments, or are you content to note? Adam, I think you may have a comment.

09:16Watch#Official Record