, Plenary
Debate on the Local Government and Housing Committee Report, 'Private rented sector'
I’d first like to acknowledge the work put in on this report by the Chairman, in particular, of the committee, but also by the committee as a whole. I was a member of the committee for a short while, whilst this piece of work was being considered, and I’m…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
I’m grateful to you, Hefin David, for raising this important and timely question in the Chamber here today. Cabinet Secretary, you will be aware that recent reports have shown that, by 2027, the number of children who will be seeking autism and attention…
, Finance Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session 7
Thank you. Thanks, Chair.
, Finance Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session 7
Thank you for that response. I guess one of the ways in which that deep poverty can be alleviated is well-educated children accessing quality jobs. Unfortunately, schools are having budget cuts where teaching assistants are being removed, but millionaires'…
, Finance Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session 7
And just recently, it became clear that around 20 per cent of children are now leaving primary school, going to secondary school, who are illiterate, so we have £260 million a year spent on feeding children—some of which, of course, is absolutely needed…
, Finance Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session 7
Okay, thank you. And then, just a final couple of points for me about the impact of the budget on children and young people in Wales. One of the biggest expenditure items shifted within this parliamentary term, of course, has been the free schools meals…
, Finance Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session 7
Thank you. And just in terms of preventative spending on housing as well, things like the independent living programme, and other programmes, and this general theme of prevention, which is certainly gathering some momentum within Government, do you think…
, Finance Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session 7
Okay. Thank you for that. I probably must move on, but I'd be fascinated to discuss this further, perhaps another time, because one lever that they are choosing to use, which will affect those rural areas massively, is the tourism tax and that perhaps is a…
, Finance Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session 7
Thanks. I'm really grateful for that response. Just a final question on this theme, before I move on: of course, the best way of helping people to get out of poverty and break that cycle is access, and easy access, to well paid jobs, and that access being…
, Finance Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session 7
Would you, then, share the concerns that have been expressed about the implications of the national insurance increase? When we took evidence, I think it was last week, as a committee, it was shared with us, I think it was from the Institute for Fiscal…
, Finance Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session 7
Thank you, Chair. I'm really grateful for your time this morning—it is morning still. I just want to pick up a phrase that I think you used earlier in your contribution, which I absolutely agree with, which is that we need to see more money in people's…
, Finance Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session 6
Thank you, Chair.
, Finance Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session 6
Okay. I thought Jane was going to speak then as well.
, Finance Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session 6
Apologies. I just want to touch on the issue of grants into social care with colleagues online. There seems to be a lack of clarity, to say the least, about some grant allocations beyond 31 March this year, which is two and a half months away. I'm just…
, Finance Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session 6
Thanks, Chair. I'm conscious of time, so perhaps I'll just ask a couple of quick questions.
, Finance Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session 6
Okay. Can I just expand on that slightly further, and perhaps I’ll come on to colleagues in social care as well in a moment? I wonder—I don’t know how we can do this as accurately as possible, but how much are we talking about that is purely a financial issue…
, Finance Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session 6
Yes, all right, lovely. Thanks, Chair. Just moving on, then, in terms of the budget announcements by the Cabinet Secretary in the draft budget in December, he told this committee he was satisfied there was adequate funding next year to allow in-roads to be…
, Finance Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session 6
Thanks.
, Finance Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session 6
Yes, thanks, Chair. I'm grateful for everyone's time this morning. Just on that capital piece, I don't know if you could perhaps share examples of—you mentioned the RPBs just a moment ago, but also examples of—where prudential borrowing through local…
, Finance Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session 6
Thank you, Chair. I just want to come back to this point around the close working between health and social services, which is good to hear. But perhaps I see it as though you're both playing the same game on the same pitch, but perhaps playing to different…
, Finance Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session 5
Thanks, Chair. Just on this point on social care pressures, clearly you've got to get the balance right between presenting a case and being able to sustain it and deliver it and do all the right things for it, but do you think it's been understood properly…
, Finance Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session 5
Thank you. Fair comments. Just briefly, then, you described earlier on in our time together some of the potential impacts of this funding settlement, that there may be some service changes or cuts to posts. Perhaps you could describe what that might look like…
, Finance Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session 5
Thanks. And just on the point of sustainability, Audit Wales have said that local government is financially unsustainable over the medium term. Do you have a response on that? And do you think that that's an accurate reflection of the situation facing…
, Finance Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session 5
Thank you, Chair. And the point that Nia’s raised, of course, that £1 million you described in Gwynedd is then a 2 per cent hit on council tax, probably—the equivalent of—which then you have to stand up in the chamber and try and justify, which I think is the…
, Finance Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session 5
Okay, thanks. Can I just get a comment on perhaps the average expectation of council tax rises?
