Meetings

9.1 The Committee noted the Welsh Government’s response to the recommendations contained within the Committee’s report on the Second Supplementary Budget for 2014-15.

Carl Sargeant AM, Minister for Natural Resources

Matthew Quinn - Director, Environment & Sustainable Development

Graham Rees - Deputy Director, Marine & Fisheries

Tony Clark - Head of Finance, Natural Resources & Food

E&S(4)-10-15 Paper 1

The Minister and officials responded to questions from members of the Committee.

The Minister for Natural Resources agreed to:

·         Provide the Committee with a profile of the projected savings resulting from the creation of Natural Resources Wales;

·         Update the Committee on whether the £3.9 million allocated to the Nature Fund in 2014-15 will be spent; and

·         Provide a note on the role that stakeholders have played in developing the Wales data hub.

NNDM5696 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

To propose that the Assembly, in accordance with Standing Order 20.30, approves the Second Supplementary Budget for the financial year 2014-15 laid in the Table Office and emailed to Assembly Members on Tuesday, 10 February 2015.

Footnote:

In accordance with the relevant provisions contained in the Government of Wales Act 2006 and Standing Order 20, the Supplementary Budget comprises the following information:

(i) the written statement required under section 125(3) of the Government of Wales Act;

(ii) the resources agreed by the Treasury for the Welsh block budget for the financial year covered by the motion;

(iii) a reconciliation between the resources allocated to the Welsh block budget by the Treasury and the resources to be authorised for use in the motion;

(iv) a reconciliation between the estimated amounts to be paid into the Welsh Consolidated Fund by the Secretary of State and the amounts to be authorised for payment out of the Fund in the motion; and

(v) a reconciliation between the resources to be authorised under section 125(1)(a) and (b) of the Act and the amounts to be authorised for payment out of the Welsh Consolidated Fund under section 125(1)(c).

The following additional information has been made available to Members:

- a note explaining the main changes from previous plans.

Supporting Document
Second Supplementary Budget for the financial year 2014-15
Report of the Finance Committee

The item started at 14.47

Voting on the motion under this item was deferred until Voting Time.

NNDM5696 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

To propose that the Assembly, in accordance with Standing Order 20.30, approves the Second Supplementary Budget for the financial year 2014-15 laid in the Table Office and emailed to Assembly Members on Tuesday, 10 February 2015.

Footnote:

In accordance with the relevant provisions contained in the Government of Wales Act 2006 and Standing Order 20, the Supplementary Budget comprises the following information:

(i) the written statement required under section 125(3) of the Government of Wales Act;

(ii) the resources agreed by the Treasury for the Welsh block budget for the financial year covered by the motion;

(iii) a reconciliation between the resources allocated to the Welsh block budget by the Treasury and the resources to be authorised for use in the motion;

(iv) a reconciliation between the estimated amounts to be paid into the Welsh Consolidated Fund by the Secretary of State and the amounts to be authorised for payment out of the Fund in the motion; and

(v) a reconciliation between the resources to be authorised under section 125(1)(a) and (b) of the Act and the amounts to be authorised for payment out of the Welsh Consolidated Fund under section 125(1)(c).

The following additional information has been made available to Members:

- a note explaining the main changes from previous plans.

The result was as follows:

The motion was agreed.

10.1   The Committee considered the evidenced received.

Jane Hutt AM, Minister for Finance and Government Business

Gawain Evans, Deputy Director Financial Controls, Welsh Government

Matt Denham-Jones, Head of Budgetary Control and Reporting, Welsh Government

9.1     The Committee took evidence from Jane Hutt AM, Minister for Finance and Government Business, Gawain Evans, Deputy Director Financial Controls, Welsh Government and Matt Denham-Jones, Head of Budgetary Control and Reporting, Welsh Government.

9.2     The Minister agreed to provide the following:

·         Confirm if all the three-year plans submitted by health boards have been agreed.

·         Provide information on the protection offered to the local government budget.

NDM5541 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

To propose that the Assembly, in accordance with Standing Order 20.30, approves the First Supplementary Budget for the financial year 2014-15 laid in the Table Office and emailed to Assembly Members on Tuesday, 24 June 2014.

Footnote:

In accordance with the relevant provisions contained in the Government of Wales Act 2006 and Standing Order 20, the Supplementary Budget comprises the following information:

(i)the written statement required under section 125(3) of the Government of Wales Act;

(ii) the resources agreed by the Treasury for the Welsh block budget for the financial year covered by the motion;

(iii) a reconciliation between the resources allocated to the Welsh block budget by the Treasury and the resources to be authorised for use in the motion;

(iv) a reconciliation between the estimated amounts to be paid into the Welsh Consolidated Fund by the Secretary of State and the amounts to be authorised for payment out of the Fund in the motion; and

(v) a reconciliation between the resources to be authorised under section 125(1)(a) and (b) of the Act and the amounts to be authorised for payment out of the Welsh Consolidated Fund under section 125(1)(c).

The following additional information has been made available to Members:

- a note explaining the main changes from previous plans.

Supporting Document
The First Supplementary Budget for the financial year 2014-15

Finance Committee’s Report

The item started at 17.26

Voting on the motion under this item was deferred until Voting Time.

NDM5541 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

To propose that the Assembly, in accordance with Standing Order 20.30, approves the First Supplementary Budget for the financial year 2014-15 laid in the Table Office and emailed to Assembly Members on Tuesday, 24 June 2014.

The result was as follows:

The motion was agreed.

5.1 Members considered the evidence received.

FIN(4)-13-14(paper 1)
FIN(4)-13-14(paper 2)

FIN(4)-13-14(paper 3)

Research Brief

Jane Hutt AM – Minister for Finance

Jo Salway – Deputy Director, Strategic Budgeting, Welsh Government

Matt Denham-Jones - Head of Budgetary Control and Reporting, Welsh Government

Jeff Andrews – Specialist Policy Adviser

2.1 The Committee took evidence from Jane Hutt AM, Minister for Finance, Jo Salway, Deputy Director, Strategic Budgeting, Welsh Government, Matt Denham-Jones, Head of Budgetary Control and Reporting, Welsh Government and Jeff Andrews, Specialist Policy Adviser on the Supplementary Budget Motion 2014-2015.

2.2 The Minister for Finance agreed to send additional information on:

·       How the increased funding of £1.6million for the Welsh language will be allocated

·       Examples of capital projects which have delivered cost savings and details of the outcomes

·       How the £6million financial transactions funding to date has been allocated

·       Further detail on the adjustment to the Education and Skills Annually Managed Expenditure (AME) relating to student loans

2.3 The Minister for Finance agreed to consider how best to disseminate details of smaller projects (under £15 million) and how these relate to Welsh Infrastructure Investment Plan.

FIN(4)-03-14 (paper 5)

9.1 The Committee noted the paper and agreed that if progress had been made, to have monthly updates and quarterly should the situation remain unchanged.

E&S(4)–05–14 Paper 1

3.1 The Committee noted the letter and agreed to respond to the Presiding Officer.

E&S(4)-31-13 paper 4

7.2 The Committee noted the report.

3b.1 The Committee noted the letter.

CYP(4)-32-13 – Paper to note 5

E&S(4)-29-13 paper 2

3.1 The Committee noted the letter.

CYP(4)-30-13 – Paper to note 6

E&S(4)-28-13 paper 1

3.2 The Committee noted the letter and discussed the procedure for agreeing committee outputs electronically.

CYP(4)-29-13 – Paper to Note 3

FIN(4)-19-13 (paper 2)

6.1 Committee made some slight amendments and agreed the final draft version and noted it would be published on 12 November 2013.

CYP(4)-28-13 – Paper to note 3

CYP(4)-28-13 – Paper to note 4

CYP(4)-28-13- Paper to note 6

6.1     The Committee discussed its letter to the Finance Committee.

Jane Hutt AM, Minister for Finance
Jo Salway, Deputy Director, Strategic Budgeting

Jeff Andrews, Specialist Policy Adviser

4.1 The Committee received evidence from the Minister for Finance, Jane Hutt.

4.2 The Minister agreed to provide the paper that was submitted to the budget advisory group for equality by Caroline Joll, academic adviser.

John Griffiths AM, Minister for Culture and Sport

Huw Brodie, Director, Culture and Sport

Huw Davies, Head of Finance, Culture and Sport

3.1 The Committee received evidence from the Minister for Culture and Sport, John Griffiths.

3.2 The Minister agreed to provide a note on direct and indirect preventative spending, in terms of some of the programmes that are within his department.

Jeff Cuthbert AM, Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty

Owain Lloyd, Head of Operations Team

Amelia John, Deputy Director, Fairer Futures

Eleanor Marks, Deputy Director Communities Division

2.1 The Committee received evidence from the Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty, Jeff Cuthbert. 

2.2 The Minister agreed to provide the following:

·         information on the evaluation and statistics of Flying Start;

·         write to the Committee regarding the previous Minister’s commitment to produce performance indicators for the Communities First programme;

·         to provide detailed guidance on the evaluation method for monitoring the Communities First programme;

·         information on how the Communities First programme is scrutinised and managed;

·         a note on the figures and overall assessment of the impact of the budget on the third sector;

·         a note on action the Minister is planning to take in relation to credit unions once the business case has been analysed;

·         a note on the evaluation of outcomes in terms of value for money of organisations that are successful in receiving capital funding for communities;

·         a note on whether capital funding will be available for transit sites.

CYP(4)-27-13 – Private Paper 2

CYP(4)-27-13 – Private Paper 3

CYP(4)-27-13 – Private Paper 4

Due to time constraints the Committee was unable to discuss the draft letters and agreed that the draft letters would be circulated to Members out of committee for comment.   

6.1 Members discussed the evidence received on the Welsh Government’s draft budget.

Jane Hutt AM, Minister for Finance, Welsh Government

Jo Salway, Deputy Director, Strategic Budgeting

Jeff Andrews, Specialist Policy Adviser

3.1 The Committee scrutinised the Minister for Finance on the Welsh Government’s draft budget for 2014-15.

Action Points

The Minister of Finance to write to the Committee in due course, with clarification on financial transaction arrangements, when the information is available from HM Treasury.

The Minister of Finance agreed to send a note on the overall level of debt in relation to innovative financing projects.

The Minister of Finance agreed to send a note on the non-dividend investment vehicle being used for the dualling of the A465.

In their post-meeting discussions the Committee also asked if they could receive the evidence on which decisions were made regarding the level of support for the Council tax reduction scheme, as at time of publication we were only half-way through 2013-14.

FIN(4)-18-13 Paper 4

4.1 The Committee noted the paper.

7.1 The Committee considered the draft reports on the budget in private.

Ministerial scrutiny session

Mark Drakeford AM, Minister for Health and Social Services

Gwenda Thomas AM, Deputy Minister for Social Services

David Sissling, Director General, Health and Social Services

Martin Solis, Director of Finance

9.1 The Committee scrutinised the Minister for Health and Social Services and the Deputy Minister for Social Services on the Welsh Government’s draft budget for 2014-15.

9.2 The Committee requested a note from the Deputy Minister for Social Services outlining how the intermediate care fund of £50 million will be allocated.

9.3 The Committee requested a note from the Minister for Health and Social Services clarifying which enhanced services will experience a disinvestment in order to support extended GP opening times.

11.1 The Committee considered the evidence received from the Minister for Health and Social Services and the Deputy Minister for Social Services and agreed to write to them seeking clarification on a number of issues raised during the session.

11.2 The Committee agreed that this letter would be shared with the Finance Committee to inform its scrutiny of the draft budget.

10.2 The Committee noted the toolkit.

Witnesses:

·         Edwina Hart AM, Minister for Economy, Science and Transport

·         James Price, Director General, Department for Economy, Science and Transport

·         Rob Hunter, Director, Finance and Performance, EST

Supporting documents:

EBC(4)-38-13(p2) - Letter from the Chair to the Minister re Budget Scrutiny 2014-15 Economy and Science

EBC(4)-38-13(p3) - Letter from the Chair to the Minister re Budget Scrutiny 2014-15 Transport

EBC(4)-38-13(p4) – Welsh Government Draft Budget Proposals: Economy, Transport and Science

2.1 The Committee took evidence from the Minister for Economy, Science and Transport Edwina Hart AM.

2.2 The Minister for Economy, Science and Transport agreed to provide the following information:

Economy:

- The Minister offered to provide 6-monthly updates on progress against Programme for Government commitments, which will also include information on the number of jobs created, safeguarded and assisted by the department and information on the number of inward investment jobs actually delivered by the department (as opposed to the wider UKTI figures based on announcements).

- The Minister offered to provide a note on how she has considered the equality impacts of the sectors policy, particularly with respect to the gender imbalances within the priority sectors.

- The Minister offered to give further consideration to what improvements could be made by her department on Equality Impact Assessment, including a note on her Department’s approach to assessing the equality and sustainable development impacts of its actions.

Transport:

- How capital allocations for sustainable travel relate to the delivery of the Active Travel Bill.

- Clarification of whether the “effective doubling” of the funding for Community Transport includes funding previously allocated for the Community Transport Concessionary Fares Initiative.

8.1 Members considered the evidence received and discussed areas they wished to discuss with the Minister of Finance on the Welsh Government’s draft budget 2014-15 when she returns to Committee on 23 October.

FIN(4)17-13 Paper 5

FIN(4)17-13 Paper 6

Geoff Lang, Executive Director of Primary Care, Community and Mental Health Services, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board

Adam Cairns, Chief Executive, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board

6.1 The Committee took evidence from Geoff Lang, Executive Director of Primary Care, Community and Mental Health Services, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and Adam Cairns, Chief Executive, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board on the Welsh Government’s draft budget for 2014-15.

FIN(4)17-13 Paper 4

Councillor Anthony Hunt, Finance Cabinet Member, Torfaen County Council and WLGA Deputy Spokesperson on Finance

Ness Young, Finance Director, Bridgend County Borough Council

Jon Rae, Director of Resources, Welsh Local Government Association

5.1 The Committee took evidence from Councillor Anthony Hunt, Finance Cabinet Member, Torfaen County Council and WLGA Deputy Spokesperson on Finance, Ness Young, Finance Director, Bridgend County Borough Council and Jon Rae, Director of Resources, Welsh Local Government Association on the Welsh Government’s draft budget for 2014-15.

5.2 The WLGA agreed to send a note to Committee on examples of best practice in relation to co-production.

FIN(4)17-13 Paper 1

FIN(4)17-13 Paper 2

FIN(4)17-13 Paper 3

Gareth Coles, WCVA

Chris Jones, Care and Repair

David Robinson, Community Links

4.1 The Committee took evidence from Gareth Coles, WCVA, Chris Jones, Care and Repair and David Robinson, Community Links on the Welsh Government’s draft budget for 2014-15.

4.2 Chris Jones (Care and Repair) agreed to send a note on how the calculation in the Rapid Response Adaptations programme was reached.

4.3 Gareth Coles (WCVA) agreed to send a note on examples of preventative spend projects in the third sector.

4.4 David Robinson (Community Links) agreed to send details of reports that have looked at preventative spend projects in the third sector.

CYP(4)-26-13 – Paper 2

Huw Lewis, Minister for Education and Skills

Ken Skates, Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology

Owen Evans, Director General, Department for Education and Skills    

Jo-Anne Daniels, Interim Director, Infrastructure, Curriculum, Qualifications and Learner Support 

The Chair welcomed the Minister, Deputy Minister and their officials to the meeting.  The Minister agreed to provide the following information:

Clarification on the funding for literacy and numeracy from the curriculum and assessment BEL;

Further information on the sub group established to consider the staffing impact of FE cuts and the equality impact assessment carried out;

Written responses to the unasked questions.

CYP(4)-26-13 – Paper 3

Mark Drakeford, Minister for Health and Social Services

Gwenda Thomas, Deputy Minister for Social Services

Mark Osland, Deputy Director of Finance, HSSDG

David Sissling, Director General, Health & Social Services

The Chair welcomed the Minister, Deputy Minister and their officials to the meeting.

CYP(4)-26-13 – Paper 1

Jeff Cuthbert, Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty

Vaughan Gething, Deputy Minister for Tackling Poverty

Peter Jones, Head of Finance

Martin Swain, Deputy Director of Children, Young People and Families

The Chair welcomed the Minister, Deputy Minister and their officials to the meeting.  The Minister agreed to provide the following information:

Examples of the cost saving work being carried out to ensure the Rights of Children and Young Persons (Wales) Measure 2011 is fully implemented and when available a cost analysis for its implementation;

Information on other Ministers budget allocations for the implementation of new duties under the Measure;

Clarity on the budget allocation to meet advocacy recommendations that have been put forward over the last few years;

Written responses to the unasked questions. 

E&S(4)-24-13 paper 1

          Alun Davies AM, Minister for Natural Resources and Food

Andrew Slade, Director, Agriculture, Food and Marine

Dr Christianne Glossop, Chief Veterinary Officer

2.1 The Minister for Natural Resources and Food and officials responded to questions from members of the Committee.

7.1 The Committee considered the evidence it had received on the draft budget 2014 – 15 and the Control of Horses (Wales) Bill.

E&S(4)-24-13 paper 2

          Jeff Cuthbert AM, Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty

          Jane Hutt AM, Minister for Finance

Jo Salway, Deputy Director, Strategic Budgeting

Jeff Andrews, Specialist Policy Adviser

Andrew Charles, Head of Sustainable Development

3.1 The Minister Communities and Tackling Poverty and the Minister for Finance responded to questions from members of the Committee on mainstreaming sustainable development in the budget process.

3.2 The Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty agreed to provide specific figures to demonstrate how the draft budget had been amended as a result of considering sustainable development impact on programmes.

E&S(4)-24-13 paper 4

5.3 The Committee noted the paper.

E&S(4)-24-13 paper 3

5.2 The Committee noted the paper.

Minister for Housing and Regeneration, Carl Sargeant AM

John Howells, Director of Housing and Regeneration

Steve Hudson, Head of Finance, Homes and Places

3.1. The Chair welcomed the Members, the Minister for Housing and Regeneration and his officials to the meeting. The Committee received evidence from the Minister.

Action points:

The Minister agreed to provide the following:

·         More detail on the payback terms of Financial Transaction Funding being made available for the Help to Buy equity loan scheme when these terms have been negotiated with HM Treasury;

·         More detail on the long-term impact that welfare reform is having on communities, when that information becomes available (The Minister suggested this information would be available in 12 months’ time or less).

·         Details of the progress of the eight Local Authorities that had not completed their registers of accessible homes at the time of the Minister’s work on this last year.

·         An amended budget paper with details of the intermediate care fund in the capital budget.

Minister for Local Government and Government Business, Lesley Griffiths AM

Reg Kilpatrick, Director, Local Government

Owain Lloyd, Deputy Director of Operations, Local Government and Communities

2.1. The Committee received evidence from the Minister.

Action points:

The Minister agreed the following:

·         to make arrangements for all the local authority equality impact assessments to be brought together in one place, if the Minister with responsibility for equality matters does not already do so.

·         to provide examples from previous years of outcome agreement funding being withheld from local authorities.

·         to set out how the CTRS element of the RSG has been distributed this year and how, potentially, it will be done next year.

·         to arrange for note to be provided clarifying which Ministerial budget the money for implementing the Active Travel (Wales) Bill will come from.

·         to provide a note on whether there are any restrictions on local authorities in terms of commercial sales they are able to make and, if so, whether there are any plans to review this in order to enable local authorities to generate more income.

The Chair agreed the following:

·         To circulate the review co-ordinated by the WLGA which looked at fees and charges across local authority services, if this was publicly available.

·         To share a letter from SOLACE—the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers—with the Minister, received as part of the Committee’s inquiry into progress with local government collaboration.

8.1 The Committee considered the evidence received from the Minister for Finance today and agreed to write to her seeking clarification on a number of issues raised during the session.

Jane Hutt AM, Minister for Finance, National Assembly for Wales

Jo Salway, Deputy Director, Strategic Budgeting

Jeff Andrews, Specialist Policy Adviser

6.1 The Committee scrutinised the Minister for Finance on the Welsh Government’s draft budget for 2014-15.

Action points:

The Minister for Finance agreed to write to Committee with clarification on how the proposed HS2 project could affect Barnett consequentials if it proceeds.

The Minister for Finance agreed to clarify the level of income anticipated from Non-Domestic rates.

The Minister for Finance agreed to share more information on the where Government caps the fees that can be charged by local authorities.

The Minister for Finance agreed to forward monitoring returns on capital expenditure for schools.

The Minister for Finance agreed to send a note on the budget allocated to develop the National Adoption Agency during this financial year.

The Minister for Finance agreed to send a note and a number for what efficiencies the Welsh Government is making within its central administration.

The Minister for Finance agreed to provide a note on special treatment given to preventative spending.

The Minister for Finance agreed to send clarification on why there has been a cut in the Welsh language budget without the promised assessment of the impact of Welsh Government spending as promised by the First Minister in February 2013.  

8.1 In preparation for its scrutiny of the Draft Budget 2014-15, the Committee held a roundtable discussion with representatives from relevant stakeholder groups.

FIN(4)-15-13 (Paper 5)

Angela Scott, Expert Adviser

8.1 The Committee received a briefing from Angela Scott, Special Advisor.

6.1 The paper was noted.

6.1 The Committee agreed the draft letter.

8.1 The Committee discussed their approach to scrutiny of the Welsh Government's Draft Budget 2014-15.

FIN(4)-11-13 Paper 2

4.1 The Committee considered the approach to the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2014-2015.

4.2 The Clerk agreed to write to Committee Chairs recommending they hold stakeholder engagement events. These events will give stakeholders the opportunity to communicate their priorities on the draft budget proposals. Committees will also be encouraged to emulate Finance Committee’s decision to adopt preventative spending as the focus for the scrutiny of the Welsh Government’s Draft Budget 2014-15.

4.3 The Clerk and Research Service agreed to contact the National Assembly Education Team to discuss the design of the engagement exercise for use at Summer Shows.

8.1 The Committee discussed proposals for handling the Welsh Government’s draft budget 2014-2015.