Concise Minutes - Finance Committee


Meeting Venue:Hybrid - Committee

room 4 Ty Hywel and video conference

via Zoom

Meeting date: Wednesday, 14 December 2022

Meeting time: 09.30 - 11.20
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/13065


Hybrid

------

Attendance

Category

Names

Members of the Senedd:

Peredur Owen Griffiths MS (Chair)

Peter Fox MS

Mike Hedges MS

Joyce Watson MS (In place of Rhianon Passmore MS)

Witnesses:

Rebecca Evans MS, Minister for Finance and Local Government

Andrew Jeffreys, Welsh Government

Emma Watkins, Welsh Government

Committee Staff:

Owain Roberts (Clerk)

Mike Lewis (Deputy Clerk)

Martin Jennings (Researcher)

 

<AI1>

Private pre-meeting - Informal (09.15-09.30)

</AI1>

<AI2>

1       Introductions, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest

</AI2>

<AI3>

2       Paper(s) to note

2.1 The papers were noted.

 

2.2 The Committee agreed to write to the Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee in relation to public appointments.

 

2.3 The Committee agreed to write to the First Minister on the financial implications of Bills.

</AI3>

<AI4>

2.1   PTN 1 - Scrutiny of the Senedd Commission Draft Budget 2023-2024: Senedd Commission response - 8 November 2022

</AI4>

<AI5>

2.2   PTN 2 - Letter from the Senedd Commission: Update to the Committee following the UK Autumn Statement - 21 November 2022

</AI5>

<AI6>

2.3   PTN 3 - Letter from the First Minister to the Chair of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee: Inter-Institutional Relations Agreement - The Prime Minister & Heads of Devolved Governments Council - 10 November 2022

</AI6>

<AI7>

2.4   PTN 4 - Legislative Consent Memorandum (LCM) on the UK Infrastructure Bank Bill: Welsh Government response - 17 November 2022

</AI7>

<AI8>

2.5   PTN 5 - Post-EU funding arrangements: Welsh Government response - 21 November 2022

</AI8>

<AI9>

2.6   PTN 6 - Post-EU funding arrangements: UK Government responses - 21 November 2022

</AI9>

<AI10>

2.7   PTN 7 - Letter from the Chair of the Children, Young People and Education Committee: Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24 - 23 November 2022

</AI10>

<AI11>

2.8   PTN 8 - Letter from the Minister for Finance and Local Government: Finance: Interministerial Standing Committee (F:ISC) - 24 November 2022

</AI11>

<AI12>

2.9   PTN 9 - Letter from the Minister for Education and Welsh Language: Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Act 2022 – Revised Explanatory Memorandum - 5 December 2022

</AI12>

<AI13>

2.10 PTN 10 - Letter from the First Minister: Scrutiny of the financial implications of Bills - 7 December 2022

</AI13>

<AI14>

2.11 PTN 11 - Letter from the Chair of the Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee: Inquiry into Public Appointments - 7 December 2022

</AI14>

<AI15>

2.12 PTN 12 - Letter from the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd: Further information following the session on the Agriculture (Wales) Bill on 9 November 2022 - 8 December 2022

</AI15>

<AI16>

3       Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24: Evidence session 1

3.1 The Committee took evidence from Rebecca Evans MS, Minister for Finance and Local Government; Andrew Jeffreys, Director, Treasury; and Emma Watkins, Deputy Director, Budget & Government Business on Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24.

 

3.2 The Minister agreed the following:

 

·         To ask the Minister for Climate Change to provide a note on the active role of Local Authorities and Registered Social Landlords in funding social housing.

·         A note on non-domestic rates support, particularly in relation to the eligibility of larger national organisations who have a presence on the high street to receive rates support.

·         A note on the progress made to secure the required powers to implement a vacant land tax and details of any discussions with the UK Government on this matter.

·         A note on the number of PFI schemes in Wales that are due for expiry in the next 5 years.

·         To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services to provide a note on any expectation of improved funding for Primary Care.

</AI16>

<AI17>

4       Motion under Standing Order 17.42 (ix) to resolve to exclude the public from the remainder of this meeting

4.1 The motion was agreed.

</AI17>

<AI18>

5       Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24: Consideration of evidence

5.1 The Committee considered the evidence received.

</AI18>

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