Cai Parry-Jones

28 September 2026, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee

Audit Wales brief: Welsh Government arrangements for funding local government

But isn't, partly, the reason why so many grants are provided later in the year because the Welsh Government can't figure out, actually, 'How much in grants can we give local councils?' until it gets very close to the end of the financial year?

28 September 2026, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee

Audit Wales brief: Welsh Government arrangements for funding local government

But do you think it should be more flexible, or do you think that balance has been hit?

28 September 2026, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee

Audit Wales brief: Welsh Government arrangements for funding local government

So, on restricted grants, it was incredible that £1.5 billion was allocated to councils in the last month of the financial year in 2025. So, obviously, that leaves very little time for councils to get that money and then figure out what they're supposed to…

28 September 2026, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee

Audit Wales brief: NHS digital transformation

Sorry to interrupt, just one final bit. The first answer you gave me was that there is not enough investment or we need to divert some day-to-day spending into digital change. Are you changing your mind now? You're saying you're not sure if we should be…

28 September 2026, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee

Audit Wales brief: NHS digital transformation

I suppose that's the balance though, right? Is the problem that we need to spend more money or is the problem that the systems we're chucking money towards are not effective? If we don't know which is the issue, we're kind of in a little bit of trouble. I can…

28 September 2026, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee

Audit Wales brief: NHS digital transformation

Do you think more than it currently invests?