, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Papers to note
Thank you very much. In that case, Members, are you content to note the letter? I see general indication, in which case we'll move on to our second paper, which is from the Chief Executive and Clerk of the Senedd, Manon Antoniazzi, to me, as Chair, regarding…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Papers to note
Members, do you have any comments? I've just got one question or consideration for the auditor general. Concern, whether valid or not, has been raised with me that with the new—you mentioned children—children's care home commissioning model, some local…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Papers to note
We have a number of these today, the first being a letter from the Minister for Children and Social Care to me, as Chair of this committee, providing an update on care home commissioning—a final update on, in fact, the Welsh Government's response to the…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Introductions, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest
Bore da a chroeso—good morning and welcome to this morning's meeting of the Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee in the Senedd, the Welsh Parliament. We're meeting remotely on this occasion. The meeting is bilingual; headsets provide…
, Plenary
Business Statement and Announcement
I call for a statement on support for parents and carers of children with additional learning needs. As chair of the cross-party autism group, I've been made aware of a letter issued by the director of education at Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council to…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government: More Homes
[Inaudible.]—with the previous Labour Government, while Wales lagged behind; and, finally, that, even last year, Wales was the only UK nation to see fewer new home registrations than in 2012?
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government: More Homes
When the Welsh Government published its five-year programme for government to April 2026, it contained the explicit commitment to build 20,000 new low-carbon social homes for rent. You state today that you are on track to deliver an additional 20,000 homes…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Papers to note
Yes, I largely endorse those comments. We need greater clarity. I was in the shadow counsel general role when this was first discussed on the Senedd floor following a UK Government proposal for five centres, one of which would be within Wales. But the…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Evidence session with the Lady Chief Justice
Okay. A final question from me, and you've already partially touched on this in relation to securing improvements to the judicial estate: what specific discussions have you had with the Welsh Government and the UK Government, if any, about securing said…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Evidence session with the Lady Chief Justice
Thank you. Well, you referred to accessibility, and, as you'll know, the Inns of Court provide guidance to courts and judges in relation to things like disability, autism, sensory loss and so on. But what is your—? And I frequently, because I chair the…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Evidence session with the Lady Chief Justice
Okay, thank you. Well, if I move on to the judicial estate, you've already made some reference to this. You rightly said or emphasised the necessity of a modern foundational estate, you referred to the current estate being unfit for purpose and particularly…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Evidence session with the Lady Chief Justice
Members have expressed views on that. I don't know how evidence based those are, and I'm just wondering if you had any—
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Evidence session with the Lady Chief Justice
Members often state there are. I've just had a—. According to AI, there are. [Laughter.] And I've certainly seen statistics periodically indicating that was the case.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Evidence session with the Lady Chief Justice
Good afternoon. If I could just ask a supplementary first, just following on some of the earlier questions. Views are often expressed by Members of the Senedd over why Wales has consistently had a higher imprisonment rate than England. Obviously, you can't…
, Finance Committee
Pre-nomination Hearing - Auditor General for Wales
Okay, thank you.
, Finance Committee
Pre-nomination Hearing - Auditor General for Wales
You said 'appearing with'; what is your understanding of—in terms of 'appearing with'—the formal role within the committee of the auditor general and their team?
, Finance Committee
Pre-nomination Hearing - Auditor General for Wales
Thank you. And my final question: what do you understand to be the auditor general's role personally with the Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee—and I say 'personally' in terms of their own direct engagement or participation?
, Finance Committee
Pre-nomination Hearing - Auditor General for Wales
Thank you. Of course, even now there is a media strategy, and press releases are issued when reports of public interest are published. When the media runs with those, which it periodically does, you might be personally asked to appear in front of a tv camera…
, Finance Committee
Pre-nomination Hearing - Auditor General for Wales
Thank you very much indeed. This is a unique and highly visible public role. You referred earlier to your initial two priorities, one of those being engaging with the Senedd and the two committees, obviously the Finance Committee and the Public Accounts…
, Finance Committee
Pre-nomination Hearing - Auditor General for Wales
Thank you.
, Finance Committee
Pre-nomination Hearing - Auditor General for Wales
I've got one very short final question, following on from the last time we met you: what do you believe is the role of appraisal? Is it part of a process or is it an annual event?
, Finance Committee
Pre-nomination Hearing - Auditor General for Wales
In terms of performance management structures, what does that mean for you?
, Finance Committee
Pre-nomination Hearing - Auditor General for Wales
Bore da. Good morning. You described the element of the role as leader of the office and leading staff. Could you describe for the committee's benefit what that means in practice for you, and how you approach staff leadership and development?
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care: NHS Waiting Times
In your statement, you said that in north Wales, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board still has more to do to meet its plan to cut long waiting times, but that here too there's been progress. A senior clinician at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Of course, during that decade, the Welsh Government was the only Government in UK history ever to cut an NHS budget in real terms. However, questioning the health Secretary here in November, I highlighted the frustration and anger expressed over the lack of…
