, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 1
Thank you. I'm not going to go down that route in terms of today's session, so, just for clarification, we mentioned linkage in terms of inflation, whether it's to the GDP deflator or the consumer price index. My information has got £1.5 billion less, if it's…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 1
Thank you.
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Evidence session 1
Very briefly, then. It’s just for clarification, if the Chair will let me. In terms of, I believe, the request around the electrification—of HS2 consequentials, sorry, the consequentials that should have come to Wales, have we had any clarification around…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Public Appointments: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
Thank you. I’m just doing this to be totally transparent. I just wanted to declare that I am a former member of the BBC broadcasting council for Wales and also the national probation board, to which I was reappointed. That's just for the record. Thank you…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Public Appointments: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
But that relates to that protected characteristic, I'm thinking overall in terms of a snapshot of where we are in Wales, but that's fine. Thank you, Chair.
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Public Appointments: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
Okay, so, there is no overall survey of current public boards at the moment. There is no survey that has gone out to everybody to get a snapshot of the diversity; it's just coming from different angles. I think that's what's been said.
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Public Appointments: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
Thank you. It's a question really on clarity. You've mentioned again the thematic review of board appointments. The questions that Mike and Adam have asked you, in a sense, are really a survey or an audit of current board members in terms of being able to…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Public Appointments: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
Okay. Thank you, Chair.
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Public Appointments: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
And in regard, then—very briefly, if I may, Chair—to the recent witnesses that have come to this committee in terms of the museum, it's still not in scope to look at governance, other than what you have just said.
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Public Appointments: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
So, in terms of the tailored review, there's been a pause in that, if I'm understanding correctly—and please correct me if I'm wrong. In terms of the tailored review that has been paused, in terms of looking at the SMART review that's going on at the moment…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Public Appointments: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
Sorry, I'm perhaps not very clear. In terms of the thematic review itself, I'm not talking about governance around the review and oversight of the review, I'm talking about governance as an issue in terms of thematic review mandate or scope, in terms of the…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Public Appointments: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
Thank you. I'm having a war with the unmute button with somebody remotely. In regard to the thematic review that the Chair has just touched upon, and the pause within that, you've mentioned processes. Is there any governance oversight in terms of the terms of…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Public Appointments: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
Thank you. Because the comment—I didn't read it out, but the comment—was related to June 2022, so these are further events, in terms of your last comment, for the committee to be clear. Thank you very much.
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Public Appointments: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
Okay. Thank you very much.
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Public Appointments: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
Yes, I understand. So, the final question from myself: the Commissioner for Public Appointments has told the committee that the volume of casework from Welsh Government where his view is sought for exceptions under the code is out of proportion to the number…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Public Appointments: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
I think the last part you mostly covered. So, what are the current gaps and vacancies as a proportion of all the public appointments overseen by Welsh Government?
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Public Appointments: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
That's very good news. So, what evidence can you share with us as a committee to demonstrate that the plan is going to address the situation, and what can you tell us further about the anticipated levels of end-of-term turnover, the recruitment activity for…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Public Appointments: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
Okay, thank you very much. I'm going to move on to strategic management of the public appointments vacancies process, and you've already highlighted some of the initiatives, which I'm sure will be very welcome. But, really, in terms of the evidence presented…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Public Appointments: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
Thank you very much. There has been some commentary around the actions that are being taken to make the public bodies unit more public facing. You've mentioned three initiatives there, which are very interesting to us, but then also some witnesses have told…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Public Appointments: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
Thank you, Chair. So, in regard to the visibility of public bodies and the customer-facing role and actual responsiveness, I'm going to move into that line of questioning. Can you explain to us as a committee how the public bodies unit engages with potential…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Evidence Session with the Welsh Government: Amgueddfa Cymru—Museum Wales
Okay, thank you.
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Evidence Session with the Welsh Government: Amgueddfa Cymru—Museum Wales
Finally, in regard to the tailored review reports to be published, to, 'ensure action is taken in response to recommendations, and to share good practice', why was the tailored review panel's interim report around corporate governance at the museum not…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Evidence Session with the Welsh Government: Amgueddfa Cymru—Museum Wales
Okay, thank you. Finally, then, in its final report, the tailored review panel said, 'given the extent of the remit, it quickly became apparent' that it was not achievable to conclude its work by the planned completion date of Christmas 2022. How do you…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Evidence Session with the Welsh Government: Amgueddfa Cymru—Museum Wales
But then surely appropriate governance arrangements would have negated that in the first place.
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Evidence Session with the Welsh Government: Amgueddfa Cymru—Museum Wales
This is around question 7, Chair. Briefly, before I do ask one of these questions to you, can I just seek further clarity in terms of the comments that there was, in your view, no governance issue? Have I understood that correctly? It was more around your…
