Peredur Owen Griffiths: Thank you for that answer.
Peredur Owen Griffiths: One of the problems the sector is currently having is funding fair pay settlements that reflect rises in the cost of living. This is particularly the case with organisations that have contracts with multiple public sector providers that are adopting different approaches to contract uplifts. One organisation I am aware of has contracts across many local authorities, with roughly a third giving...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I am pleased to speak in this debate today on behalf of the Finance Committee. The committee scrutinised the first supplementary budget on 30 June and I thank the Minister for her attendance.
Peredur Owen Griffiths: The committee’s report was laid before the Senedd yesterday and makes 12 recommendations. First of all, the committee is extremely concerned about the impact that inflationary pressures will have on the affordability of the Welsh Government’s budgetary proposals. Given that these exceptional pressures will persist and could worsen, we ask the Minister to provide an assessment of the...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Finally, the committee notes with concern the plans by the UK Government to cut 91,000 in the civil service, and further notes that a Barnett share of those jobs would amount to approximately 6,000 jobs being lost here in Wales. The committee is concerned that such cuts could have a disproportionate impact on Wales. As a result, we want further information on the UK Government’s intentions...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Thank you, Chair. It's my pleasure to be opening this debate today on the Welsh Government’s spending priorities for 2023-24. I have mentioned previously in this Chamber that engaging with people across Wales is a priority for me as Chair, specifically to listen to the views of stakeholders on what the Welsh Government budget should include. I am pleased to say that the committee has not...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Cadeirydd, our engagement work on the budget for 2023-24 was made up of three strands: the stakeholder event at Llanhilleth Miners Institute in Blaenau Gwent; as mentioned, a workshop with members of the Welsh Youth Parliament; and numerous focus groups with organisations and citizens across Wales. On behalf of the committee, I'd like to thank everyone that has contributed to the work....
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Thank you, Chair. I'd like to thank Members who have contributed to today’s debate. This has been a golden opportunity for the Senedd to influence the Welsh Government’s thinking before it publishes the draft budget later this year. I hope the Minister will take onboard the views raised today.
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Thank you to all Members and committee Chairs for their input into the debate, and the Minister's response. It was clear that the cost-of-living crisis comes through as a major priority, with many Members referencing it. We heard from many contributors today, and I'm not going to rehearse the arguments and the comments we heard, but the broad areas were mental health, education, paid and...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: I'd like to thank those that are the main drivers of today’s debate: our stakeholders and the people that we spoke with. They are central to our work, and we're grateful for their continued engagement. Finally, I'd like to thank the clerking team and the research team who work very hard in the background to facilitate the committee's work and allow us to scrutinise effectively the...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: 7. What is the Government doing to create the best learning environment for children? OQ58399
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Thank you for that response.
Peredur Owen Griffiths: This winter will be one of the most challenging in the history of devolution, because the cost-of-living crisis will have a brutal and merciless impact on almost everybody, but especially the most vulnerable, without significant state intervention. Education is one of the many places where this crisis will be felt. Some children not covered by our free school meals policy will be going hungry...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Bearmach has been a good local employer for many years in the Bedwas and Trethomas area. Apart from the 50 jobs that have been quoted as being affected, there will also be, as we've heard, lots of other agency staff employed at the site, who have now lost their income at the worst possible time. This will also be a blow to local businesses who worked in tandem with Bearmach, or benefited from...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Minister, could you maybe give us an indication of whether you agreed with Andy Burnham leaving the 20 per cent rate as it is, so that it leaves the money there, so that we can actually invest in our communities?
Peredur Owen Griffiths: 4. What is the Government doing to promote food security? OQ58445
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Thank you for the answer.
Peredur Owen Griffiths: The rising cost of essential items is something that we're all too familiar with. The current rate of inflation, at about 9.9 per cent, is causing people in Wales dire financial problems. In agriculture, the rate of inflation is running at a staggering 23.5 per cent annually, but I think in certain places that that is even higher. This is causing many farmers to question their future in the...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Thank you very much for the scheme and for these reports. Over the weekend, I had the pleasure of singing with my choir, CF1, with another choir, for a tv show with Rhys Meirion, Canu Gyda fy Arwr, which will be broadcast early next year. It's not unusual for us to join another choir, but what was unusual in this case was that the choirs were not only singing but also using Makaton, which is...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: 2. What is the Government doing to address poverty? OQ58491
