Meetings

NDM8681 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 20.30, approves the First Supplementary Budget for the financial year 2024-25 laid in the Table Office on Tuesday, 1 October 2024.

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;

(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); and

(vi)  details of any revisions to the information provided in accordance with Standing Orders 20.7 – 20.7B for the draft budget, as specified in the protocol agreed under the Standing Order 20.1A

The following additional information has been made available to Members:

 - a note explaining the main changes from previous plans.

Supporting Documents

Report of the Finance Committee

The item started at 17.39

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

NDM8681 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 20.30, approves the First Supplementary Budget for the financial year 2024-25 laid in the Table Office on Tuesday, 1 October 2024.

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;

(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); and

(vi)  details of any revisions to the information provided in accordance with Standing Orders 20.7 – 20.7B for the draft budget, as specified in the protocol agreed under the Standing Order 20.1A

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.

Supporting documents:

FIN(6)-21-24 P4 - Draft report (To be included in a supplementary pack)

7.1 The Committee considered the draft report and agreed it with minor changes.

Mark Drakeford MS, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language, Welsh Government

Sharon Bounds, Deputy Director, Financial Controls, Welsh Government

Emma Watkins, Deputy Director, Budget and Government Business, Welsh Government

Supporting documents:

Welsh Government First Supplementary Budget 2024-25

Senedd Research Brief

4.1 The Committee took evidence on the First Supplementary Budget 2024-25 from Mark Drakeford MS, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language, Welsh Government; Sharon Bounds, Deputy Director, Financial Controls, Welsh Government and Emma Watkins, Deputy Director, Budget and Government Business, Welsh Government.

6.1 The Committee considered the evidence received.

Mark Drakeford MS, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language

Andrew Jeffreys, Director Treasury, Welsh Government

Emma Watkins, Deputy Director, Budget and Government Business, Welsh Government

Supporting documents:

Senedd Research Brief

4.1 The Committee took evidence in relation to Pre-budget scrutiny from Mark Drakeford MS, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Welsh Language, Welsh Government; Andrew Jeffreys, Director Treasury, Welsh Government; and Emma Watkins, Deputy Director, Budget and Government Business, Welsh Government.

4.2 The Cabinet Secretary agreed to provide the following:

·         An update on future meetings within the top tier of the Finance: Inter-Ministerial Standing Committee (F:ISC).

·         Further information on any modelling or studies relating to the potential impact of raising income tax and / or increasing the number of income tax bands, on cross-border movement of individuals and the amount of income tax revenue received. In particular, any update on the work being undertaken with the Scottish Government and HMRC in relation to longitudinal research carried out by HMRC on taxpayer behaviour, following the implementation of different tax rates in Scotland.

4.3 The Committee agreed to write to the Office of National Statistics regarding the publication of Wales-specific Quarterly Growth Data.

5.1 The Committee considered the evidence received.

5.2 The Committee agreed to write to the Senedd Commission to request further information on its supplementary budget.

Hefin David MS, Commissioner for Budget and Governance

Manon Antoniazzi, Chief Executive and Clerk of the Senedd

Kate Innes, Chief Finance Officer, Senedd Commission

Ed Williams, Director of Senedd Resources, Senedd Commission

Supporting documents:

FIN(6)-13-24 P1 – Letter from the Senedd Commission – 10 May 2024

FIN(6)-13-24 P2 – Senedd Commission First Supplementary Budget 2024-25

Senedd Research Brief

3.1 The Committee took evidence on the First Supplementary Budget 2024-25 from Hefin David MS, Commissioner for Budget and Governance; Manon Antoniazzi, Chief Executive and Clerk of the Senedd; Kate Innes, Chief Finance Officer, Senedd Commission; and Ed Williams, Director of Senedd Resources, Senedd Commission.

Supporting documents:

FIN(6)-12-24 P2 – Cover paper

FIN(6)-12-24 P3 – Letter from the Senedd Commission – 10 May 2024

FIN(6)-12-24 P4 – Senedd Commission First Supplementary Budget 2024-25

FIN(6)-12-24 P5 - Public Services Ombudsman for Wales First Supplementary Estimate 2024-25

5.1 The Committee considered the cover paper and the supplementary estimates from the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales; and the Senedd Commission.

5.2 The Committee agreed to invite the Senedd Commission to attend an evidence session on its supplementary estimate.