Peredur Owen Griffiths: I've only got a little to go, so you don't have to be too concerned. I hope that the Finance Committee will be able to collaborate with other policy committees because, as I said, it's likely that the draft budget will be published before Christmas. We intend to consult on the priorities for the next draft budget in the autumn term. I would also encourage committee Chairs and members to...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: This draft budget will be the first of the sixth Senedd, and I hope that the Finance Committee can work collaboratively with the other policy committees. Given that the draft budget is likely to be published prior to Christmas, we intend to consult on the priorities for the next draft budget in the autumn term. I’d encourage committee Chairs and members to engage with the Finance Committee...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Thank you very much, Llywydd. I'm pleased to be able to contribute to this important debate today in my role as Chair of the Finance Committee. Like buses, they don't come for ages and then you get two at once, and I'm very pleased to be able to take part.
Peredur Owen Griffiths: In previous years, the Finance Committee has led on this type of debate and, in normal times, the committee would hold a big stakeholder event or an online campaign to hear the views of stakeholders on where the Welsh Government should be prioritising its spending. This information would then feed into a debate of this type so that Members have the opportunity to discuss and potentially...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: I'm pleased to have been able to speak in today's debate, my first for me as the new Chair of the Finance Committee. I understand that the previous Finance Committees have had a constructive relationship with finance Ministers and I look forward to continuing this in my new role. Thank you very much.
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Thank you, Llywydd. I'm very pleased to speak in this debate today on behalf of the Finance Committee. The committee undertook scrutiny on the first supplementary budget on 2 July. I thank the Minister for her attendance and also I thank the Members for meeting at short notice to do that work.
Peredur Owen Griffiths: This supplementary budget shows an increase in allocations to Welsh Government departments of £1.2 billion. That's an increase from £19.7 billion to £20.9 billion. The allocations are mainly based on the Welsh Government’s continued response to the pandemic. The Minister told us this is a technical supplementary budget moving back in step with previous ways of budgeting. However, the...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Trefnydd, I'd like to bring up the rights of disabled people living in Wales. Earlier this month, the 'Locked out' report, commissioned by your Government, was a wake-up call to many in authority, as it detailed how the pandemic had led to medical discrimination and limited access to public services and social support, along with general weakening of basic human rights for disabled people. ...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Now, staff in care homes are working their socks off—I don’t think there’s many here who would deny this—but, inevitably, things move down the priority list. Indeed, dental care, for many of us over the last 18 months, has taken a back seat due to the need for social distancing, and I’m sure care homes, who have been especially vulnerable to infection during the pandemic, have been...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd, and just to let Members know that I've agreed to a request from Sioned Williams to make a short contribution at the end of this debate. Over the past few weeks, I've been getting to know the different aspects of my portfolio. I'm the spokesperson for communities and older people. As you might expect, a large part of this covers social care. For those of you that know...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Diolch yn fawr. My question is in two parts. Can the Welsh Government outline how much of the £8.4 million invested into the end-of-life care sector each year in Wales goes towards paediatric palliative care services? Secondly, Tŷ Hafan and Tŷ Gobaith receive less than 10 per cent of their funding from the Welsh Government. This is a significantly lower proportion than children's hospices...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: 2. How is the Welsh Government ensuring that children in need of palliative care get the best possible care? OQ56741
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Thank you to Gareth Davies, from the Vale of Clwyd, where I was born, for tabling this motion.
Peredur Owen Griffiths: I wish to speak in support of the motion tabled. I'm the Plaid Cymru spokesperson on communities and older people, and as such, this proposed legislation is something I take a keen interest in. This motion is timely in light of a number of headlines we've seen in recent weeks. We've seen research that shows that older people are feeling increasingly cut off from society. This is, in part, due...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Diolch. One of the oddest things about our devolution arrangement is that almost 40 per cent of the total funding for justice in Wales comes from Wales, despite us having no control in this policy field. To coin a phrase, it's like having the worst of both worlds. As the 'Justice in Wales for the People of Wales' report said, 'Justice should be at the heart of government.' Can the Counsel...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: 2. What discussions has the Counsel General had with the Minister for Finance and Local Government on the effectiveness of the Welsh Government's expenditure on justice? OQ56703
Peredur Owen Griffiths: Diolch, First Minister. Many businesses have reopened following the last lockdown. They have done so with a reduced capacity. This invariably means a reduced income. I've had representations from a yoga studio in South Wales East that has reopened in the last couple of months, but can only welcome a third of their usual clients through the door. Their overheads remain the same. They received...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: 6. What support is the Welsh Government providing to businesses affected by social distancing during the pandemic? OQ56712
Peredur Owen Griffiths: COVID has undoubtedly had a big impact on public finances and local authorities have been no exception. The way in which the public sector has come together and given up resources to help in the fight against the pandemic has been inspiring. I'm also aware that some councils in Wales have been unable to spend some of their budgets, as operations have ceased or been curtailed in certain...
Peredur Owen Griffiths: —by a lack of political will, how will a Government be judged if they fail to act in the face of a housing crisis? Diolch.
