Y Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol

Health and Social Care Committee

Lesley Griffiths AM

Minister for Health and Social Services

1 June 2012

Dear Lesley,

Health and Social Care Committee: financial scrutiny

As you will be aware, the Health and Social Care Committee is responsible for examining the expenditure, administration and policy of the government and its associated public bodies.

In October 2011, we considered the Government’s draft budget for 2012-13. During that period, the Committee agreed that it wished to increase its financial scrutiny activity during the course of this Assembly. As you know, some financial scrutiny work has already begun during our general scrutiny sessions with both yourself and the Deputy Minister for Children and Social Services. It is our aim to continue this work as part of our future policy, legislative and budget scrutiny programme.

To better inform our future consideration of financial matters, it would be very helpful if the Welsh Government would be able to share some additional financial information with the Committee. To ensure that the Committee maintains the sufficient understanding of the Welsh NHS’s financial position which would be expected of us, it would be helpful to know:

· what arrangements the Welsh Government has in place for in-year monitoring of the financial position of Wales’s health boards, including information about their performance against their financial plans and savings targets; and

· if you would be prepared to share such information with the Committee, on a regular basis.

It is our view that this information will help ensure that our deliberations are well-informed and accurate.

For information, I have also written to each Local Health Board today to request information to help inform our future work in this area. I attach a copy of this letter for your information.

Yours sincerely,

Mark Drakeford AC AM

Cadeirydd – Chair