Agenda and minutes

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

Minutes of the meeting held on 14 December 2022

2.1 The papers were noted.

David Phillips, Associate Director, Institute for Fiscal Studies

Dr Ed Poole, Senior Lecturer, Wales Governance Centre (Wales Fiscal Analysis)

Guto Ifan, Lecturer, Wales Governance Centre (Wales Fiscal Analysis)

Supporting documents:

FIN(6)-01-23 P1 – Summary of consultation responses

Wales Fiscal Analysis - Wales Budget Outlook 2022 (PDF, 4.2MB)

Institute for Fiscal Studies – ‘Implications of the Autumn Statement 2022 and EFO for Wales and the Welsh Government’ (Presentation slides)

Research Service Brief

3.1 The Committee took evidence from David Phillips, Associate Director, Institute for Fiscal Studies; Dr Ed Poole, Senior Lecturer, Wales Governance Centre (Wales Fiscal Analysis); and Guto Ifan, Lecturer, Wales Governance Centre (Wales Fiscal Analysis) on scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24.

Sophie Howe, Future Generations Commissioner for Wales

Rhiannon Hardiman, Change Maker (Nature, Climate Change and Decarbonisation), Future Generations Commissioner for Wales

Alex Chapman, Senior Researcher, New Economics Foundation

Supporting documents:

FIN(6)-01-23 P2 - Future Generations Commissioner for Wales

Research Service Brief

4.1 The Committee took evidence from Sophie Howe, Future Generations Commissioner for Wales; Rhiannon Hardiman, Change Maker Future Generations Commissioner for Wales and Alex Chapman, Senior Researcher, New Economics Foundation on scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24.

Victoria Winckler, Director, Bevan Foundation

Luke Young, Assistant Director, Citizens Advice Cymru

Natasha Davies, Policy and Research Lead, Chwarae Teg

Supporting documents:

FIN(6)-01-23 P3 - Bevan Foundation

FIN(6)-01-23 P4 - Chwarae Teg

Research Service Brief

5.1 The Committee took evidence from Victoria Winckler, Director, Bevan Foundation; Luke Young, Assistant Director, Citizens Advice Cymru; and Natasha Davies, Policy and Research Lead, Chwarae Teg on scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24.

6.1 The motion was agreed.

7.1 The Committee considered the evidence received.

Richard Hughes, Chairman, Office for Budget Responsibility

Andy King, Budget Responsibility Committee member, Office for Budget Responsibility

Professor David Miles, Budget Responsibility Committee member, Office for Budget Responsibility

Supporting documents:

FIN(6)-01-23 P5 - Welsh taxes outlook (December 2022)

Research Service Brief

The Committee took evidence from Richard Hughes, Chairman, Office for Budget Responsibility; Andy King, Budget Responsibility Committee member, Office for Budget Responsibility; and Professor David Miles, Budget Responsibility Committee member, Office for Budget Responsibility on scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24.

9.1 The Committee considered the evidence received.

Supporting documents:

FIN(6)-01-23 P6 - Fee Scheme 2023-24

10.1 The Committee approved the Audit Wales Fee Scheme 2023-24, under Standing Orders 18.10(x) in accordance with section 24(7) of the Public Audit (Wales) Act 2013.

Supporting documents:

FIN(6)-01-23 P7 - SLCM (No.3): UK Infrastructure Bank Bill

FIN(6)-01-23 P8 – SLCM timetable: UK Infrastructure Bank Bill

Legal Services advice note

11.1 The Committee considered the SLCM and agreed to write to the Minister for Finance and Local and Government.

Supporting documents:

Food (Wales) Bill, as introduced (PDF, 182KB)

Explanatory Memorandum (PDF, 1.4MB)

Research Service Brief

12.1 The Committee considered the supporting documents and agreed to scrutinise the financial implications of the Food (Wales) Bill.