Agenda and minutes

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

1.2 Apologies were received from Siân Gwenllian MS.

Minutes of the meeting held on 14 September 2020

The minutes were noted.

Kirsty Williams MS, Minister for Education

Georgina Haarhoff, Deputy Director, Curriculum

Sara James, Head of Schools Research, Knowledge and Analytical Services

Andrew Hobden, Economist, Economic Advice Division

Supporting papers: 

Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Bill 

Explanatory Memorandum  

FIN(5)16-20 P1 - Letter to the Minister for Education from the Children, Young People and Education Committee – financial information – 22 July 2020 

FIN(5)16-20 P2 – Letter from the Minister for Education – response to the Children, Young People and Education Committee – 4 August 2020 

FIN(5)16-20 P3 – Letter from the Minister for Education – 1 September 2020 

Research Brief

3.1 The Committee took evidence from Kirsty Williams MS, Minister for Education; Georgina Haarhoff, Deputy Director, Curriculum, Bill - Senior Research Officer; Sara James, Head of Schools Research, Knowledge and Analytical Services; and Andrew Hobden, Economist, Economic Advice Division on the Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Bill.

Adrian Crompton, Auditor General for Wales

Isobel Everett, Chair of the Wales Audit Office Board, Audit Wales

Kevin Thomas, Executive Director Corporate Services, Audit Wales

Supporting papers: 

FIN(5)-16-20 P4 – Audit Wales’ Annual Report and Accounts 2019-20  

FIN(5)-16-20 P5 - Wales Audit Office – Audit Findings Report – Year Ended 31 March 2020  

FIN(5)-16-20 P6 - Audit Wales - Annual Plan 2020-21 

FIN(5)-16-20 P7 - RSM UK Tax and Accounting Limited - Value for Money Review of the Wales Audit Office’s Travel and Subsistence arrangements  

FIN(5)-16-20 P8 – Valedictory letter from Chair of the Wales Audit Office  

Research Brief

4.1 The Committee took evidence from Adrian Crompton, Auditor General for Wales; Isobel Everett, Chair of the Wales Audit Office Board, Audit Wales; and Kevin Thomas, Executive Director Corporate Services, Audit Wales on the Annual Report and Accounts 2019-20 and the Annual Plan 2020-21.

4.2 Audit Wales agreed to provide further details on the calculation of the payback period for the management restructure.

5.1 The motion was agreed.

6.1 The Committee considered the evidence received.

7.1 The Committee considered the evidence received.