Agenda and minutes

View the meeting transcript.

PAC(4)-23-14 paper 1

1.1 Members considered the draft report and suggested a number of changes. A revised version will be prepared for consideration at Committee on 13 October.

Research Brief

2.1 Members discussed the research brief in advance of the scrutiny session on the Welsh Government Consolidated Annual Accounts 2013-14 with the Permanent Secretary.

3.1 The Chair welcomed the Members to Committee.

3.2 Apologies were received from Alun Ffred Jones. Jocelyn Davies substituted.

3.3 Jocelyn Davies advised that the Regeneration Investment Fund for Wales LLP was included in her portfolio when she was a Minister.

PAC(4)-23-14 paper 2

Sir Derek Jones – Permanent Secretary, Welsh Government

Michael Hearty - Director General, Finance & Corporate Services, Welsh Government

Lynne Hamilton - Director of Finance & Commercial, Welsh Government

Gawain Evans - Deputy Director Financial Controls, Welsh Government

4.1 The Committee scrutinised Sir Derek Jones, the Permanent Secretary at the Welsh Government and his officials on the Welsh Government Consolidated Annual Accounts 2013 – 2014.

4.2 The Permanent Secretary agreed to:

·       Send details exit packages awarded and related savings in salary costs and also provide a breakdown of increases in staff numbers within the organisation

·       Provide an explanation of the Welsh risk pool provision

·       Provide an explanation as to why the use of renewable energy has decreased with an increase in the use of non-renewable energy within the Welsh Government’s estate

·       Provide a breakdown of the expenditure incurred on official business travel for 2012-13 and 2013-14, on CRC allowances and energy expenditure for 2013-14

·       Provide a breakdown on expenditure for travel, subsistence and hospitality in 2013-14

·       Provide a detailed explanation for the implication the failure of the Welsh Government to secure £25.6m in non-cash provision. Following the discussion with the Permanent Secretary, Members agreed that they wished to see the lessons learnt report following this incident.

Item 6

5.1 The motion was agreed.

6.1 Members discussed the evidence received and agreed to revisit the issue on receipt of the additional information from the Permanent Secretary.