Agenda and minutes

1.1 The Chair welcomed Members to the virtual meeting of the Finance Committee.

1.2 The following members of the EAAL committee participated in items 5 and 7, in accordance with Standing Order 17.49:

-        David Rees MS

-        Huw Irranca-Davies MS

-        Nick Ramsay MS

-        David Rowlands MS

Minutes of the meeting held on 3 March 2021.

2.1 The papers were noted.

Rebecca Evans MS, Minister for Finance and Trefnydd

Andrew Jeffreys, Director Treasury

Gawain Evans, Director of Finance

Debra Carter, Deputy Director, Local Government Strategic Finance

Marcella Maxwell, Deputy Director, Commercial Procurement and Group Strategy

Supporting papers:

Research brief

3.1 The Committee took evidence from Rebecca Evans MS, Minister for Finance and Trefnydd; Andrew Jeffreys, Director Treasury; Gawain Evans, Director of Finance; Debra Carter, Deputy Director, Local Government Strategic Finance; and Marcella Maxwell, Deputy Director, Commercial Procurement and Group Strategy on Finance Committee Legacy work.

3.2 The Minister for Finance and Trefnydd agreed to provide:

-        Further information via the Minister for Education regarding funding allocation for research in Higher Education Institutions.

Supporting papers:

FIN(5)-08-21 P1 – Report

FIN(5)-08-21 P2 - Letter from the Minister for Finance and Trefnydd to the Llywydd – 3 March 2021

SUB-LD14189 - The Land Transaction Tax (Temporary Variation of Rates and Bands for Residential Property Transactions) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2021

SUB-LD14189-EM - The Land Transaction Tax (Temporary Variation of Rates and Bands for Residential Property Transactions) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 - Explanatory Memorandum

4.1 The Committee took evidence from Rebecca Evans MS, Minister for Finance and Trefnydd; Andrew Jeffreys, Director Treasury; Gawain Evans, Director of Finance; Debra Carter, Deputy Director, Local Government Strategic Finance; and Marcella Maxwell, Deputy Director, Commercial Procurement and Group Strategy, on the Tax statutory instrument.

4.2 The Chair thanked the Minister for Finance and Trefnydd, and her officials for the constructive way in which they have engaged with the Committee over the period of the Fifth Senedd.

Rt. Hon Simon Hart MP, Secretary of State for Wales

Geth Williams, Deputy Director of Constitution and Policy, Wales Office

Supporting papers:

Research brief

5.1 The Chair welcomed members of the External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee who were invited to attend the item with the Secretary of State for Wales.

5.2 The Committee took evidence from the Rt. Hon Simon Hart MP, Secretary of State for Wales; and Geth Williams, Deputy Director of Constitution and Policy, Wales Office.

5.3 The Secretary of State for Wales agreed to:

-        Provide further information regarding Gwynedd’s status as a category 3 area in relation to the Levelling Up Fund;

-        Speak to HM Treasury regarding HM Treasury control on the amount of money that the Welsh Government can carry over from the ‘block grant’ into the next financial year; and

-        Explore the Welsh Government’s claims that the mechanism for devolving competence to introduce new Welsh taxes is not fit for purpose with HM Treasury.

5.4 The Chair thanked the current and past members of the Finance Committee; and all the stakeholders and witnesses for their valuable contributions over the period of the Fifth Senedd.

6.1 The motion was agreed.

7.1 The Committee considered the evidence received.

8.1 The Committee considered the evidence received.

9.1 The Committee considered the evidence received and agreed to report on the statutory instrument.

Supporting papers:

FIN(5)-08-21 P3 – Draft report on the Consideration of the consultation on the draft Public Audit (Amendment) (Wales) Bill

FIN(5)-08-21 P4 - Draft Public Audit (Amendment) (Wales) Bill

FIN(5)-08-21 P5 – Explanatory Notes

FIN(5)-08-21 P6 – Legal advice note

10.1 The Committee agreed the draft report.