, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Senedd Commission Draft Budget 2022-23: Evidence session
And, briefly, this may be for a different committee, but those are all clearly understood. But are there any plans afoot for physical visits when we do start to open up to, for instance, mother and toddler groups, places where we know our cohorts are that we…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Senedd Commission Draft Budget 2022-23: Evidence session
Okay. And how is that expected to change the current scenario in terms of the benchmarking of where we feel we are? What is the anticipated goal within that?
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Senedd Commission Draft Budget 2022-23: Evidence session
Okay. Thank you very much for that. We've touched briefly, previously, in a different committee, in regard to engagement around the lower socioeconomic cohorts in terms of the employment data being collected. So, I do really welcome the new audience…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Senedd Commission Draft Budget 2022-23: Evidence session
Thank you very much. In regard then to—if I briefly may—perceptions and future planning in terms of any perception in the Senedd or outside of the Senedd of a two-tier workforce, i.e. those in the building and those out of the building, a north-south…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Senedd Commission Draft Budget 2022-23: Evidence session
Thanks. That's quite enough, I suppose, in terms of the timings that we've got. In regard to the full repairing lease, I've been asking questions on this for quite a while now, so there is absolutely, then, from what I read earlier—that wasn't apparent in the…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Senedd Commission Draft Budget 2022-23: Evidence session
Yes, if I may, briefly, in regard to any and the shift in emphasis in terms of supporting staffing and also Members that COVID-19 and the health pandemic have, in a sense, propagated, that is extremely welcome. So, the first question, really is: in terms of…
, Finance Committee
Papers to note
I was going to wait. Yes, just to say that that's very welcome and I'm presuming that we will be positively responding to that offer of potential dialogue with them; I think it's something that I’ve been very interested in for a long time, and I think there's…
, Finance Committee
Oversight of Audit Wales—Scrutiny of the Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21 and the Annual Plan 2021-22: Evidence session
That was my question. Thank you.
, Finance Committee
Oversight of Audit Wales—Scrutiny of the Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21 and the Annual Plan 2021-22: Evidence session
Sorry, just very briefly. Before the dialogue from Lindsay I was going to ask whether it's possible for that to be presented to us as a scrutiny committee or some sort of feedback formally. But—
, Finance Committee
Oversight of Audit Wales—Scrutiny of the Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21 and the Annual Plan 2021-22: Evidence session
Okay; thank you, Chair, for your indulgence.
, Finance Committee
Oversight of Audit Wales—Scrutiny of the Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21 and the Annual Plan 2021-22: Evidence session
Okay. And a tiny question: in regard to no absorbing of fees, which you mentioned—which was mentioned at the very start, Chair, if I may—and in regard to the emergent model that you're talking about, I would be seeking some reassurance that there wouldn't be…
, Finance Committee
Oversight of Audit Wales—Scrutiny of the Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21 and the Annual Plan 2021-22: Evidence session
I think it may be useful, with the time available, Chair, if there is perhaps a note that you could send to the committee in terms of that programme of change, further to what you have just stated, Auditor General. That would be of use so that we can scope…
, Finance Committee
Oversight of Audit Wales—Scrutiny of the Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21 and the Annual Plan 2021-22: Evidence session
Thank you. In regard, then, to your new change programme team and the prioritised portfolio of change projects—there are some very fancy titles there—what change projects, then, have you started or have you finalised? I'm trying to encapsulate, from what you…
, Finance Committee
Oversight of Audit Wales—Scrutiny of the Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21 and the Annual Plan 2021-22: Evidence session
Thank you. In regard, then, to the cost-benefit analysis that was undertaken prior to the restructure, has there been any change to that in terms of where you are?
, Finance Committee
Oversight of Audit Wales—Scrutiny of the Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21 and the Annual Plan 2021-22: Evidence session
Thank you. I don't want to go into too much detail, but it does say here on page 266 that Audit Wales is above the civil service people survey median for resources, workload and pay and benefits. I just thought I'd highlight that. So, in terms of…
, Finance Committee
Oversight of Audit Wales—Scrutiny of the Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21 and the Annual Plan 2021-22: Evidence session
Thank you. I'm sure that others will come on to that, because the impact on staff morale seems to be heavy and, obviously, it's very difficult to dissect the pandemic and the new way of working within the organisation within that. What do you feel staff…
, Finance Committee
Oversight of Audit Wales—Scrutiny of the Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21 and the Annual Plan 2021-22: Evidence session
I'm sorry to interrupt you, Adrian; just so that I'm clear and the committee's clear, the new position was in place after the staff survey results that we're interpreting here.
, Finance Committee
Oversight of Audit Wales—Scrutiny of the Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21 and the Annual Plan 2021-22: Evidence session
So, in that regard, bearing in mind that the staff survey results are maybe slightly out of sync, this new post was post the staff survey? Because, obviously, there are some serious issues there in terms of those areas that I've mentioned. If that were to be…
, Finance Committee
Oversight of Audit Wales—Scrutiny of the Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21 and the Annual Plan 2021-22: Evidence session
I'm conscious I may be straying, Lindsay, into other questioners' areas, and I'm going to leave it at that, if I may. I just wanted to touch upon that if I had the opportunity. So, in regard, then, to the questions that I have to ask or explore around, one of…
, Finance Committee
Oversight of Audit Wales—Scrutiny of the Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21 and the Annual Plan 2021-22: Evidence session
Thank you very much. It's been a very challenging time for all organisations, public sector or otherwise, and, obviously, there is recognition of that. There has been big change, hasn't there, this year, and I suppose my first question, if I may, Chair, so…
, Finance Committee
Introductory session with the Minister for Finance and Local Government: Evidence session
Thank you very much. Thank you, Chair.
, Finance Committee
Introductory session with the Minister for Finance and Local Government: Evidence session
Okay, thank you. And briefly, if I may, Chair, the final question that I wanted to just fit in in regard to the devolved competency for Welsh Government to administer new taxes in regard to that being deemed not fit for purpose for Wales: what action is…
, Finance Committee
Introductory session with the Minister for Finance and Local Government: Evidence session
Thank you, Minister. In that regard, then, in terms of my question of how the Finance Committee can be more strategically involved in that information chain, I presume the outcome of this review will have that conversation in regard to how this Finance…
, Finance Committee
Introductory session with the Minister for Finance and Local Government: Evidence session
In regard to the commitment to this committee as to how we can better communicate where we, as Welsh Government, disagree, essentially, with the consequentials. And there have been many instances of that in the last year.
, Finance Committee
Introductory session with the Minister for Finance and Local Government: Evidence session
Thank you. And you've led into the next question in terms of your last comments, Andrew, in regard to how we, as Welsh Government, when we challenge that additional spending for Wales and consequentials for Wales—what sort of higher commitment than that can…
