, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
I'm pleased to be able to take part in this really important debate today, because, as we've heard, it's almost a year since the health board for north Wales, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, was placed in its latest version of special measures. It's…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Yes. Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I'm sure the Minister inadvertently said something a moment ago that wasn't correct in referencing myself—the 3 per cent cut to schools in Conwy previously—as the council leader. That actually took place under the…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
I'm grateful to Siân Gwenllian for raising this really important issue here this afternoon, because it is no exaggeration saying that there is a dentistry crisis in north Wales in particular. Indeed, just in Anglesey in recent weeks, a local practice there…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Special measures at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board—One year on
Thank you, Minister, for your statement today. Minister, you referenced, in your statement, the report from Audit Wales, which came out last week, and you referenced it in responses today as well. It did make for a sobering read and it shows there's still…
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Housing supply
I think it's a really important point you've made, Jenny, but let me remind you: I was quoting from the Labour Party manifesto, so you should probably take that up with your colleagues in Westminster, I would suggest. It seems to me that Labour are not…
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Housing supply
Certainly, Jenny.
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Housing supply
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. We've clearly heard many problems and issues around housing outlined so far here today, but let's be clear: the roots of these issues sit with the Welsh Government and their refusal to enable enough homes to be built for…
, Plenary
Topical Questions
Minister, I certainly welcome your announcement of the additional £25 million for local authorities in the next financial year. And as we've already heard, when the UK Government announced an increase to the local government settlement in England, of the £600…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services
Thank you for your response, Minister. You will accept, as you've outlined there, that value for money is something that should be running through every Government department, and should be an absolute priority for every Minister and official in Welsh…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services
1. What is the Minister doing to ensure value for money when procuring products for use in the NHS? OQ60638
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
Okay. Thanks, Chair.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
And do you think this potential change damages that perception at all of access to information and to transparency?
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
Thank you, Chair, and just to follow on from the questions that Mabon has raised, I just wanted your thoughts on the importance of perception with this issue, rather than perhaps reality. As you say, the number of people who first of all received that free…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
All right. Thank you. Thank you, Chair.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
So, you're not concerned that there'll be, potentially, many businesses that perhaps don't engage at the level that they will have to in the future—that's not a concern for you at the moment.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
Chair, can I just ask one more quick question? Again, it's on this information point. Because, clearly, there are thousands of businesses at the moment who probably don't engage very much at all because they don't pay any rates at all, due to small business…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
I think that's certainly something to take away, because I'm sure, like me, you've read the valuation of public houses approved guide front to back. It's a 45-page guide split between drinks revenue, food revenue, hotel revenue and other revenue within a pub…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
Thank you, Chair. Coming now to, perhaps, more questions around the information expected from ratepayers, in particular the comments that Jayne Bryant raised from the Welsh Beer and Pub Association, who again described what's being proposed as an unrealistic…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
Great. Thank you. Chair.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
Yes.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
Yes. And just perhaps a similar question from me to one earlier, as well, to understand, again, the structures or the organisation you have in place to understand from those businesses—. You said businesses are telling you that three years is what they want…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
All right. Thanks. And then, just a couple more questions, Chair, if I may, as well. In terms of the challenges of those shorter revaluations, currently proposed at three yearly, what sort of discussions have you had with the VOA about possibly shorter…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
Yes. So, it's currently not a preference, but something to perhaps consider. Is that a fair summary?
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
Would you have a preference there, then? Would it be preferential to have a one-year AVD rather than two years? What's your preference?
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
Yes, okay. Thank you. And then just moving on, if I may, Chair, to, Minister, probably your favourite thing, which is the antecedent valuation date. Could you outline your powers to set the AVD and whether you are considering shortening the date for future…
