Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Thanks very much. Well, I think it's really important that people understand that this is a first step and there will be more steps that follow this, so I'll just repeat some of the points that I made earlier to Darren. But I think it's important that people understand that I have the power to dismiss the board; I do not have the power to dismiss executives. They have rights; they have...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Diolch yn fawr, Ken. I think it's important that we do recognise that members of the previous board had made big efforts to try and hold the executive team to account. What they haven't done is the next step, which is to follow through on the findings. And I think what's important is that there's an understanding now that it's that next step that needs to be taken. So, I would like to...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Thanks. Well, I think it’s really important that people understand that I do have the legal authority to dismiss independent members of the board. So, that’s the first thing: I have that authority, and I can do it immediately, and obviously we checked very carefully before we went down that path. You talked about them starting on an important journey. Well, you know, they’ve been in...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Well, first of all, I think you're right: I think we need criteria for knowing when it is we've reached the point to take people out of special measures. So, I've asked officials to look at that, so that we've got a more objective measure for how we can measure improvement and how we know we've got to the place we need to get to. I have tried explaining the situation in relation to the letter...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Thank you. Well, Plaid Cymru's answer to everything is restructuring and more management—[Interruption.] That's what happens. In terms of commissioning a piece of work, no, I'm not going to commission that. I think that the new board will come in, and if they want to look at it, it's up to them, but I won't be commissioning that work. Thank you.
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Diolch yn fawr. I think it's clear that the executive team needs a lot of work in Betsi, and I do hope that the next chair and chief executive will understand the importance of that. I've talked about the levers that I don't have, the fact that I cannot dismiss people that I don't employ. I think it's really important that people understand that these people have rights, you need to respect...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Thank you very much, Siân. I think it’s very important to understand that these changes aren’t going to happen overnight; we’ll have to go through a process. It will take some time to get a new chief executive in place, and I hope that that appointment makes a big difference. I do know that the new chair is very eager to set out a timetable for what he expects to achieve during his...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Thanks very much. I think it's important that you recognised that there was an issue in relation to responsibility on behalf of the executives, and obviously that is something that we're very concerned about. That, I hope, is something that the new chair will undertake in terms of his responsibility. I will be speaking to him to recommend that he reads your report to make sure that he's...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Thank you very much. I'd like to read a message that I had from one of his constituents yesterday: 'Great news. Well done, Eluned. Now we have hope.' That's from one of your constituents as well. I do think it's important also for us to understand that the responsibility does go beyond independent members. I accept that, I've said that time and time again. This is a first step and we need to...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Thanks, Gareth. I was smirking because I just thought it was very odd for you to say, 'I'm going to be straight with you,' as if nobody else before you had been straight with me. I think it's really important that people understand some of the expectations that we will be putting in place in terms of what happens next. There will be specialist advice on board governance and effectiveness....
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Thanks very much, Janet. And you're right. Look, it's not an acceptable situation where you've got four CEOs over four years. We need some continuity in this post, which is why—
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Oh, for goodness' sake. Do you mind if I—?
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Sorry.
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Thank you. I took my advice in terms of special measures also from Audit Wales and HIW. So, there's a tripartite system that gives me advice in terms of when I need to step in. So, this is the first time they've said, 'You need to step in.' So, that's quite important as well. So, just in terms of you mentioned buildings and the situation getting worse. Well, I can tell you that the capital...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: I do not employ those people directly. Those people have rights. There will be a process, and they need to understand that that process, I'm sure, will be followed.
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: I issued a written statement yesterday to update Members, following a meeting of my officials and trade unions yesterday afternoon. I’m pleased that the Wales partnership forum have collectively narrowly accepted the enhanced pay offer proposed by the Welsh Government for 2022-23.
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Thank you very much. I think it’s very important that we do recognise that even though this is a situation where the unions collectively have agreed to accept the offer, we do understand that the offer has only been accepted by one vote, and we also understand that there are a lot of people within the unions who are still very angry about the situation. That’s why, during the coming...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Thanks, Russell. Obviously, we are always keen, in the Welsh Labour Government, to work in social partnership, and I would suggest that we actually have a very good and constructive relationship with all of the unions. Obviously, there are times when we disagree on aspects of detail, and we acknowledge that there is a genuine sense of grievance at the moment. That's why we want to make sure...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: I've noted the announcement made by the Wales air ambulance service. The Wales Air Ambulance Charity is an independent organisation, which does not receive any direct funding from the Welsh Government. As such, decisions regarding the configuration and operation of its services and bases are an operational matter for the charity and its board of trustees.
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Thanks very much. Obviously, I know you'll be pleased that the current organisation configuration will be in place until 2026 and that a seven-year contract has been issued to Gama Aviation, but you're quite right, within the contract, there is a possibility to reconfigure if that's what's thought necessary. I think that it is important that we do continue with the review, because it's just...
