Meetings

PAC(5)-09-21 Paper 1 – Letter from the Permanent Secretary, Welsh Government (5 March 2021)

3.1 Members discussed the letter from the Permanent Secretary and it was agreed that the Chair would reply asking that the response is sent to the incoming Chair of the successor Committee.

PAC(5)-06-21 Paper 1 – Draft Report

PAC(5)-06-21 Paper 2 – Letter from the Permanent Secretary, Welsh Government (7 January 2021)

PAC(5)-06-21 Paper 3 – Letter from the Permanent Secretary, Welsh Government (4 February 2021)

2.1 The Committee considered and agreed the draft report, which will be published in March 2021.

2.2 Vikki Howells had advised she was content and the comments raised by Delyth Jewell were considered and discussed by the Members present.

PAC(5)-05-21 Paper 2 - Response from the Senedd Commission

5.1 The Committee considered and noted the Assembly Commission’s response to the Scrutiny of Accounts 2019-20.

5.2 It was agreed that the Legacy Report contains a recommendation for the successor Committee to continue discussing KPIs with the Senedd Commission during its annual scrutiny of the accounts.

5.1 Members considered the evidence received.

Research Briefing

PAC(5)-26-20 Paper 1 – Welsh Government Consolidated Accounts 2019-20

Shan Morgan - Permanent Secretary, Welsh Government

Gawain Evans - Director of Finance, Welsh Government

Peter Kennedy – Human Resources Director, Welsh Government

Natalie Pearson - Head of Organisational Development and Engagement, Welsh Government

David Richards - Director of Governance and Ethics, Welsh Government

2.1 The Members scrutinised the Permanent Secretary on the Welsh Governments’ Consolidated Accounts and Report 2019-20.

2.2 The Permanent Secretary agreed to send additional information on a number of issues.

5.1 Members considered the evidence received. The Committee will continue their scrutiny of the Welsh Government’s Consolidated Accounts and Annual Report 2019-20 on 7 December 2020.

Research Briefing

Audit Wales - Commentary on the Welsh Government’s Consolidated Accounts 2019-20

PAC(5)-24-20 Paper 1 – Welsh Government Consolidated Accounts 2019-20

PAC(5)-24-20 Paper 2 – Joint letter from the Permanent Secretary, Welsh Government and the Auditor General for Wales (6 November 2020)

PAC(5)-24-20 Paper 3 – Letter from the Permanent Secretary, Welsh Government (29 October 2020)

Shan Morgan - Permanent Secretary, Welsh Government

Gawain Evans – Director of Finance, Welsh Government

David Richards – Director of Governance, Welsh Government

Andrew Slade – Director General for Economy, Skills and Natural Resources Group, Welsh Government

2.1 The Members scrutinised the Permanent Secretary on the Welsh Governments’ Consolidated Accounts and Report 2019-20.

2.2 The Permanent Secretary agreed to:

·         Send a copy of the technical assessment paper prepared for HM Treasury and subsequently for consideration by the Financial Reporting Advisory Board (FRAB) regarding the procedure for dealing with grants in extra-ordinarily circumstances.

·         Provide an overview of the number and nature of any contracts that exist, if any, between the Welsh Government and the UK Government for Covid-19 related services.

·         Confirm if a contract was in place with Lighthouse Labs, and if so if it included clauses for turnaround times and whether poor performance would have amounted to breaches of contract.

·         Confirm if the Welsh Government has a contract or other written agreement with the UK Government for the sourcing and delivery of the Covid-19 vaccine.

·         Provide additional information on forecast timing of EU programme receipts.

·         Provide a rationale as to how the Department of Education model, used to calculate student loan write-offs, has been adapted for use in Wales.

·         Confirm how much interest was payable on the guarantee fee together with the associated legal costs with regard to the write off for the Circuit of Wales project.

·         Provide a table detailing the amount paid for land and buildings, and the amount they were subsequently sold for, following the announcement the M4 corridor scheme would not proceed. The purchase price will also show the blight price and the true valuation price.

2.3 Andrew Slade agreed to include a commentary regarding the additional finding agreed for the International Convention Centre in his letter on busines finance, currently being prepared for the Committee.

PAC(5)-22-20 Paper 2 – Draft report

PAC(5)-22-20 Paper 3 – Letter from the Chief Executive and Clerk of the Senedd (20 October 2020)

PAC(5)-22-20 Paper 3 – Letter from the Chief Executive and Clerk of the Senedd (4 November 2020)

5.1 The Members noted the two letters.

5.2 Subject to two minor revisions, the Report was agreed and arrangements will be made for it to be published in November 2020.

Research Briefing

PAC(5)-18-10 Paper 1 – Senedd Commission: Annual Report and Accounts 2019-20

PAC(5)-18-10 Paper 2 – Senedd Commission: Diversity and Inclusion:

Annual Report 2019-20

PAC(5)-18-10 Paper 3 – Senedd Commission: Official Language Scheme:

Annual Report 2019-20

PAC(5)-18-10 Paper 4 – Senedd Commission: Sustainability:

Annual Report 2019-20

PAC(5)-18-20 Paper 5 - Response from the Senedd Commission to the Chair, Finance Committee - Financial implications of COVID-19 pandemic, 7 July 2020

PAC(5)-18-20 Paper 6 – Correspondence with the Senedd Commission

Manon Antoniazzi - Chief Executive and Clerk of the Senedd

Nia Morgan – Director of Finance

3.1 The Members questioned the witnesses as part of the Committee’s Scrutiny of Accounts.

3.2 Manon Antoniazzi, Chief Executive and Clerk of the Senedd, agreed to provide some additional information/clarity on a number of points raised.

5.1 The Committee considered the evidence received.

PAC(5)-17-20 Paper 5 – Welsh Government Response

PAC(5)-17-20 Paper 6 – Cymraeg: It Belongs to Us All Strategy: Letter from the Permanent Secretary, Welsh Government (28 July 2020)

7.1 The Members considered the response from the Welsh Government.

7.2 It was agreed that the Chair would respond to the Permanent Secretary on a number of issues and the remainder will be covered in the forthcoming evidence session on the scrutiny of accounts 2019-20.

PAC(5)-10-20 Paper 1 – Draft Report

5.1 The Committee considered the second draft of the report.

5.2 It was agreed that a further draft be taken to Committee on 23 March, following amendments suggested today.

PAC(5)-08-20 Paper 1 – Draft Report

1.1 The Committee considered the draft report and suggested some amendments. A revised version will be prepared for Committee on 16 March 2020.

PAC(5)-06-20 Paper 2 – Scrutiny of Accounts 2018-19: Assembly Commission’s Response

4.1 The Committee considered and noted the Assembly Commission’s response to the Scrutiny of Accounts 2018-19.

4.2 It was agreed that the Chair will write to the Commission seeking further clarity as to why the two Recommendations were rejected.

PAC(5)-29-19 Paper 1 – Draft Report

1.1 The Committee considered and subject to a few minor revisions, agreed the draft report.

Research Briefing

PAC(5)-28-19 Paper 2 – Welsh Government Consolidated Accounts 2018-19

PAC(5)-28-19 Paper 3 – Letter from the Permanent Secretary on Loans and Investments

PAC(5)-28-19 Paper 4 – Letter from the Permanent Secretary on Non-Executive Directors

PAC(5)-28-19 Paper 5 – Letter from the Permanent Secretary on the Gypsy and Traveller Capital

PAC(5)-28-19 Paper 6 – Letter from the Auditor General for Wales on New Zealand Budgetary Practices

Shan Morgan - Permanent Secretary, Welsh Government

Peter Kennedy - HR Director, Welsh Government

David Richards - Director of Governance and Ethics, Welsh Government

Natalie Pearson – Head of Organisational Development and Engagement, Welsh Government

4.1 The Committee undertook the third scrutiny session with the Permanent Secretary on the Welsh Government’s Consolidated Accounts 2018-19.

4.2 The Permanent Secretary agreed to send a progress report at the end of the year on the Welsh Government’s working group work for the facilitation and promotion of the Welsh language.

David Richards - Director of Governance and Ethics, Welsh Government

Jeff Farrar – Non-Executive Director

Ann Keane – Non-Executive Director

4.1 As part of the Committee’s scrutiny of the Welsh Government’s Consolidated Accounts 2018-19, Members discussed the role of Non-Executive Directors with Ann Keane and Jeff Farrar.

7.1 Due to time constraints, this item was deferred.

8.1 The Committee considered the additional information received from the Assembly Commission as part of forming their views on items to be included in the Committee’s report.

5.1 Members considered the evidence received.

Research Briefing

PAC(5)-26-19 Paper 1 – Welsh Government Consolidated Accounts 2018-19

Shan Morgan - Permanent Secretary, Welsh Government

Andrew Slade - Director General Economy, Skills and Natural Resources Group, Welsh Government

Peter Ryland - Chief Executive WEFO

Gawain Evans - Director of Finance, Welsh Government

David Richards - Director of Governance and Ethics, Welsh Government

3.1 The Committee undertook the second scrutiny session with the Permanent Secretary on the Welsh Government’s Consolidated Accounts 2018-19.

3.2 The Chair asked for clarification on what the £21.2M loan will be spent on at Cardiff Airport together with a repayment schedule, following publication of the Welsh Government’s written statement earlier today. Andrew Slade agreed to write with further details.

3.3 The Permanent Secretary agreed to:

·         Update the committee on the bilateral discussions scheduled for November regarding the European Agricultural Funds Rural Development Accounts;

·         Provide further information regarding the scale of loss in 2018-19 regarding expired drug stocks and explore if the drugs could have been utilised elsewhere prior to their expiry date, including why the figures for drugs written off were higher than for previous years;

·         Send further details regarding the Welsh Government’s free swimming grant for over 60 year olds;

·         Send further information once the report of the evaluation of the flexible funding pilot is produced; and

·         Clarify why only 41 % of the allocated funding of the Rural Development Plan had been spent as at August 2019.

5.1 Members considered the evidence received.

Research Briefing

PAC(5)-24-19 Paper 2 – Welsh Government Consolidated Accounts 2018-19

PAC(5)-24-19 Paper 3 – Recommendations contained in the Committee’s Report on the 2017-18 Annual Report and Accounts

PAC(5)-24-19 Paper 4 – Letter from the Permanent Secretary to the Accounting Officers of the Welsh Government’s Arm’s Length Bodies and Commissioners in Wales (16 September 2019)

PAC(5)-24-19 Paper 5 – Letter from the Permanent Secretary – Update on Response to Recommendations (27 September 2019)

Shan Morgan - Permanent Secretary, Welsh Government

Gawain Evans - Director of Finance, Welsh Government

Peter Kennedy - HR Director, Welsh Government

David Richards - Director of Governance and Ethics, Welsh Government

3.1 The Committee received evidence from Shan Morgan - Permanent Secretary, Gawain Evans - Director of Finance, Peter Kennedy - HR Director and David Richards - Director of Governance and Ethics, Welsh Government on the scrutiny of the Welsh Government’s Consolidated Accounts 2018-19.

2.2 The Permanent Secretary agreed to:

·         Send a note regarding the Welsh Government’s Non-Executive Directors being able to take on additional roles in addition to their agreed terms;

·         Advise of additional payments made to Non-Executive Directors made in the 2018-19 financial year;

·         Provide more information on loans and investments awarded during the 2018-19 financial year; and

·         Send a note on the underspend which occurred in the capital budget for Gypsies and Travellers.

Research Briefing

PAC(5)-23-19 Paper 1 – Assembly Commission Annual Report and Accounts 2018-19

PAC(5)-23-19 Paper 2 – Recommendations contained in the Committee’s Report on the 2017-18 Annual Report and Accounts

Manon Antoniazzi – Chief Executive and Clerk of the Assembly

Nia Morgan – Director of Finance, National Assembly for Wales

Suzy Davies AM – Commissioner with responsibility for ​Budget and Governance

3.1 The Committee received evidence from Manon Antoniazzi, Chief Executive and Clerk of the Assembly, Nia Morgan, Director of Finance, National Assembly for Wales and Suzy Davies AM, Commissioner with responsibility for Budget and Governance, on the Assembly Commission’s Accounts.

3.2 The witnesses agreed to send further information on the following points:

·         The stretch targets for the key performance indicators;

·         plans/work being done to reduce single use plastic;

·         The environmental aspects of contract assessments; and

·         A comparison of absence relating to mental health and wellbeing from this year and last year.

6. The Committee considered the evidence received.

PAC(5)-12-19 Paper 1 – Assembly Commission

PAC(5)-12-19 Paper 1A – Letter from the Assembly Commission on Relaxation of the Establishment Cap (3 May 2019)

PAC(5)-12-19 Paper 2 – National Museum Wales

PAC(5)-12-19 Paper 3 – Public Services Ombudsman for Wales

PAC(5)-12-19 Paper 4 – Welsh Government

3.1 Members considered the responses to the Committee’s Scrutiny of Accounts 2017-18 Report.

3.2 It was agreed that issues regarding the Assembly Commission and the Welsh Government would be considered as part of the Scrutiny of Accounts 2018-19 and that the Chair would write to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales seeking clarification on a number of points.

Gawain Evans - Director of Finance, Welsh Government

Chris Munday - Deputy Director, Business Solutions, Welsh Government

3.1 Members received a briefing from Welsh Government officials on guarantees and contingent liabilities as recorded in the Welsh Governments Annual Report and Accounts 2017-18.

PAC(5)-05-19 Paper 8 – Draft Report

6.1 Members considered and agreed the draft report, subject to a small number of amendments which would be circulated by email.

PAC(5)-03-19 Paper 3 – Draft Report

7.1 Members considered the final chapters of the draft report and noted that a revised version would be scheduled for further consideration at Committee on 11 February.

PAC(5)-02-19 Paper 8 – Draft report

9.1 Members considered the draft report and due to time constraints, agreed to return to it at the next meeting.

5.1 Members considered the evidence received.

Research Briefing

PAC(5)-28-18 Paper 1 – National Museum Wales Financial Report 2017-18

PAC(5)-28-18 Paper 2 – National Museum Wales Remit Letter 2017-18

PAC(5)-28-18 Paper 3 – National Museum Wales Remit Letter 2018-19

PAC(5)-28-18 Paper 4 – National Museum Wales update on the Committee’s recommendations regarding the Financial Report 2014-15

PAC(5)-28-18 Paper 5 – National Museum Wales IIP40 Online Survey Report

David Anderson – Director General, National Museum Wales

Neil Wicks, Deputy Director General and Director of Finance and Corporate Resources, National Museum Wales

Nia Williams, Director of Learning & Engagement, National Museum Wales

3.1 Members scrutinised David Anderson, Director General, Neil Wicks, Deputy Director General and Director of Finance and Corporate Resource, and Nia Williams, Director of Learning & Engagement from National Museum Wales on National Museum Wales’ Annual Report and Accounts for 2017-18.

3.2 Neil Wicks agreed to provide the Committee with the average number of days per employee lost through sickness in 2017-18.

5.1 The evidence was considered.

Research Briefing – Welsh Government Consolidated Accounts

Research Briefing – EU Structural Funds

PAC(5)-27-18 Paper 1 – Welsh Government Consolidated Accounts 2017-18

PAC(5)-27-18 Paper 2 – Welsh Government Annual Report on Grants Management 2017-18

PAC(5)-27-18 Paper 3 – Letter from the Permanent Secretary (22 August 2018)

Shan Morgan - Permanent Secretary, Welsh Government

Gawain Evans – Director of Finance, Welsh Government

David Richards – Director of Governance, Welsh Government

Peter Kennedy – HR Director, Welsh Government

Peter Ryland - Deputy Director, Programme Performance & Finance, Welsh European Funding Office (WEFO)

3.1 Members scrutinised Shan Morgan, Permanent Secretary, Gawain Evans, Director of Finance, David Richards, Director of Governance, Peter Kennedy, HR Director from the Welsh Government and Peter Ryland, Deputy Director of the Welsh European Funding Office on the Welsh Government’s Consolidated Accounts for 2017-18.

3.2 Shan Morgan agreed to take legal advice on whether she can disclose further information on head lease agreements between the Welsh Government and sub-lessees who will be tenants in possession.

Research Briefing

PAC(5)-26-18 Paper 4 - Public Services Ombudsman for Wales – Annual Report and Accounts 2017-18

PAC(5)-26-18 Paper 5 - Public Services Ombudsman for Wales – Update on Committee recommendations regarding Annual Report and Accounts 2013-14

Nick Bennett - Public Services Ombudsman for Wales
Katrin Shaw - Director of Policy Legal and Governance
David Meaden -  Financial Accountant, Public Services Ombudsman for Wales

6.1 Members scrutinised Nick Bennett, Public Services Ombudsman for Wales, Katrin Shaw, Director of Policy, Legal and Governance and  David Meaden, Financial Accountant, Public Services Ombudsman for Wales, on the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales’ Annual Report and Accounts 2017-18.

Research Briefing

PAC(5)-26-18 Paper 3 – Assembly Commission Annual Report and Accounts 2017-18

Manon Antoniazzi – Chief Executive and Clerk of the Assembly

Nia Morgan – Director of Finance, National Assembly for Wales

Suzy Davies AM – Commissioner with responsibility for ​Budget and Governance

5.1 Members scrutinised Manon Antoniazzi, Chief Executive and Clerk of the Assembly, Nia Morgan, Director of Finance, National Assembly for Wales, and Suzy Davies AM, Commissioner with responsibility for Budget and Governance on the Assembly Commission’s Annual Report and Accounts 2017-18.

5.2 Manon Antoniazzi agreed to write to the Chair with the Assembly Commission’s views once they had considered the paper at their November meeting regarding the new contract KPI for procurement.

8.1 Members considered the evidence received.

PAC(5)-10-18 Paper 3 – Response from the Arts Council for Wales
PAC(5)-10-18 Paper 4 – Response from the Assembly Commission

PAC(5)-10-18 Paper 5 – Response from the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales

PAC(5)-10-18 Paper 6 – Response from the National Library of Wales

PAC(5)-10-18 Paper 7 – Response from Sport Wales

PAC(5)-10-18 Paper 8 – Response from the Welsh Government

5.1 Members noted and discussed the responses to the recommendations contained in the Committee’s Report.

5.2 The Chair agreed to write to the Welsh Government and National Library of Wales with the Committee’s observations on their responses.

PAC(5)-01-18 Paper 4 – Draft report

6.1 The Members considered the draft Report and suggested a number of additional recommendations.

6.2 The Clerks will amend the draft report and circulate to Members, for agreement, by email.

6.1 Members considered the evidence received.

6.1 The Chair asked the Clerks to prepare a report for Member’s consideration.

Research Briefing

PAC(5)-28-17 Paper 1 – Arts Council for Wales Annual Report and Accounts 2016-17

PAC(5)-28-17 Paper 2 – Arts Council for Wales Annual Remit letter from the Welsh Government

Nick Capaldi – Chief Executive, Arts Council for Wales

Gwyn Williams – Director of Finance, Arts Council for Wales

3.1 Members scrutinised Nick Capaldi, Chief Executive and Gwyn Williams, Director of Finance at the Arts Council for Wales on the Annual Report and Accounts 2016-17.

3.2 Nick Capaldi agreed to send:

·       further information on the amount of the budget that is allocated for projects specifically targeted for NEETS in disadvantaged areas, the number of projects and the priority attached to them by the Arts Council;

·       a detailed breakdown of the Arts Council for Wales’ reserves; and

·       the number of organisations identified as ‘red risk’ in the portfolio.

Research Briefing

PAC(5)-28-17 Paper 3 – National Library of Wales Annual Report and Accounts 2016-17

PAC(5)-28-17 Paper 4 – National Library of Wales Annual Remit letter from the Welsh Government

PAC(5)-28-17 Paper 5 – Correspondence from the Welsh Government (18 October 2017)

PAC(5)-28-17 Paper 6 – Correspondence from the Auditor General for Wales (25 October 2017)

Linda Tomas – National Librarian

Rhodri Glyn Thomas – President, National Library of Wales

David Michael - Director of Corporate Resources, National Library of Wales

3.1 Members scrutinised Linda Tomas, National Librarian; Rhodri Glyn Thomas, President and David Michael, Director of Corporate Resources at the National Library of Wales on the Annual Report and Accounts 2016-17.

Research Briefing

PAC(5)-25-17 Paper 3 – Assembly Commission Annual Report and Accounts 2016-17

Manon Antoniazzi – Chief Executive and Clerk of the Assembly

Suzy Davies AM – Commissioner for Budget and Governance

Nia Morgan – Director of Finance, National Assembly for Wales

4.1 Members scrutinised Manon Antoniazzi, Chief Executive and Clerk of the Assembly; Suzy Davies AM, Commissioner for Budget and Governance and Nia Morgan, Director of Finance, National Assembly for Wales on the Annual Report and Accounts 2016-17.

4.2 Manon Antoniazzi agreed to send a copy of the Capacity Review Report to the Committee, which is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

6.1 Members considered the evidence received.

Research Briefing

PAC(5)-25-17 Paper 1 – Sport Wales Annual Report and Accounts 2016-17

PAC(5)-25-17 Paper 2 – Sport Wales Annual Remit letter from the Welsh Government

Sarah Powell – Chief Executive, Sport Wales

Peter Curran - Director of Finance & Corporate Services, Sport Wales

3.1 The Chair gave the Committee’s condolences to Sport Wales following the fatal accident involving Paul Garrett.  

3.2 Members scrutinised Sarah Powell, Chief Executive and Peter Curran, Director of Finance and Corporate Services at Sport Wales on the Annual Report and Accounts 2016-17.

3.3 Sarah Powell agreed to send further details on the amount of investment the 5 x 60 and Dragon Sport Programmes have received together with the method of evaluating the effectiveness of these programmes together with the last set of evaluation data.

Research Briefing

PAC(5)-24-17 Paper 3 – Welsh Government Consolidated Accounts 2016-17

PAC(5)-24-17 Paper 4 - Welsh Government accounts 2015-16 – Update on concessionary travel payments

Shan Morgan – Permanent Secretary, Welsh Government

David Richards - Director of Governance, Welsh Government

Gawain Evans - Director of Finance, Welsh Government

Peter Kennedy – HR Director, Welsh Government

4.1 Members scrutinised Shan Morgan, Permanent Secretary at the Welsh Government and her officials, on the Welsh Government Consolidated Accounts 2016-17.

4.2 The Permanent Secretary agreed to:

·       Send a copy of the letter, with appropriate redactions, that her predecessor sent to her prior to taking up her appointment;

·       Send figures on changes to individual staff earnings over £100K in the reporting period; and

·       Send a copy of the current pay policy.

Research Briefing

PAC(5)-24-17 Paper 1 – Future Generations Commissioner for Wales Annual Report and Accounts 2016-17

PAC(5)-24-17 Paper 2 - Future Generations Commissioner for Wales Settlement Letter 2016-17

Sophie Howe - Future Generations Commissioner for Wales

Helen Verity - Director of Finance and Corporate Governance  

3.1 Members scrutinised Sophie Howe, Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, and Helen Verity, Director of Finance and Corporate Governance on the Annual Report and Accounts 2016-17.

8.1 Members considered the evidence received.

1.1 Committee Members participated in training as part of their preparation for the forthcoming work on accounts scrutiny.

PAC(5)-07-17 Paper 1 – Welsh Government and Careers Wales

PAC(5)-07-17 Paper 2 – Estyn

PAC(5)-07-17 Paper 3 – Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW)

3.1 The Committee noted the response to their report on Accounts Scrutiny 2015-16 and agreed to seek an update on implementation from the Welsh Government in September 2017.

PAC(5)-11-16 Paper 6 – Draft Report

8.1 Members considered the draft report and asked for a number of recommendations to be included.

8.2 An amended draft report will be circulated to Members for agreement.

PAC(5)-10-16 Paper 3 – Draft Report

5.1 The Auditor General for Wales advised that he wished to comment on the report in writing and as such the item was deferred for a future meeting.

5.1 Members discussed the evidence received during the course of the accounts scrutiny work for 2015-16.

Research Briefing

PAC(5)-05-16 Paper 1

Sir Derek Jones – Permanent Secretary, Welsh Government

Gawain Evans – Director of Finance, Welsh Government

Peter Kennedy – Director of Human Resources, Welsh Government

3.1 The Committee scrutinised Sir Derek Jones, Permanent Secretary,

Gawain Evans, Director of Finance and Peter Kennedy, Director of Human Resources, at the Welsh Government on the Welsh Government’s Consolidated Accounts 2015-16.

3.2 Sir Derek Jones agreed to send further information on:

·       The extent to which local authorities are recruiting people externally with appropriate procurement expertise

·       Figures capturing Welsh Government and public sector procurement in Wales

·       Clarification on the variances for the Health and Social Services Group underspend of £153m as detailed in the Summary of Outturn table and the impact on the HSS Ambit underspend had two of the health bodies not overspent.  (together with the effect of the Welsh Government providing additional money to two health boards who had overspent and the effect this had on provisions of cash requirement)

·       Direct the Committee to links for further information (previous correspondence) on the Welsh risk pool

·       Keep the Committee informed on possible disciplinary taken that might need to be taken regarding the fruitless payment of £1.25m

·       How restricted and unquantified potential liabilities are accounted for in terms of clarity

7.1 Members discussed the evidence received on the scrutiny of Careers Wales, HEFCW’s and Estyn’s annual reports 2015-16

Research Briefing

PAC(5)-04-16 Paper 1
PAC(5)-04-16 Paper 1A

Richard Spear – Chief Executive, Careers Wales
Nikki Lawrence – Director of Resources, Careers Wales

3.1 The Committee scrutinised Richard Spear, Chief Executive and

Nikki Lawrence, Director of Resources at Careers Wales on Careers Wales Annual Report 2015-16.

3.2 Richard Spear agreed to send further information on:

·       The accounts explain that Careers Wales’ employees are members of seven Local Government Pension Schemes following the historical merger of the regional careers companies. These seven areas are listed in the accounts but the Committee wishes to seek clarification on why the former West Glamorgan County Council is not included in the list.

·       The number of contacts made through the medium of Welsh and also the number of contacts made through non-English and non-Welsh languages.

Research Briefing

PAC(5)-04-16 Paper 3

Meilyr Rowlands – Chief Inspector, Estyn

Phil Sweeney - Corporate Services Director, Estyn

5.1 The Committee scrutinised Meilyr Rowlands, Chief Inspector, and Phil Sweeney, Corporate Services Director, Estyn on Estyn’s Annual Report 2015-16.

Research Briefing

PAC(5)-04-16 Paper 2

Dr David Blaney - Chief Executive, HEFCW

Bethan Owen – Director of Institutional Engagement, HEFCW

Nick Williams – Head of Corporate Services, HEFCW

4.1 The Committee scrutinised Dr David Blaney, Chief Executive,

Bethan Owen, Director of Institutional Engagement and Nick Williams, Head of Corporate Services, HEFCW on HEFCW’s Annual Report 2015-16.

11.1 Members discussed the evidence received on the scrutiny of the Assembly Commission annual report 2015-16.

PAC(5)-03-16 Paper 13 – Assembly Commission Annual Report 2015-16

PAC(5)-03-16 Paper 14 – Assembly Commission Annual Report 2015-16 – Executive Summary

Research Briefing

Suzy Davies AM - Assembly Commissioner

Claire Clancy – Chief Executive and Clerk to the Assembly

Nia Morgan – Director of Finance, National Assembly for Wales

10.1 The Committee scrutinised Suzy Davies AM, Assembly Commissioner, Claire Clancy, Chief Executive and Clerk to the Assembly and Nia Morgan, Director of Finance, National Assembly for Wales on the Assembly Commission Annual Report 2015-16.