Peter Fox: Thank you, Minister, for that statement. As I'm sure you know, Minister, Welsh workers take home the lowest pay packets in the United Kingdom—an astonishing £3,000 less than their counterparts in Scotland. The simple fact is that any rise in income tax would be a direct attack on hard-working people. So, I'm glad that the Welsh Government has chosen not to increase the Welsh rate of income...
Peter Fox: Thank you, Minister. We all know that SMEs are the beating heart of our Welsh economy. They provide vital employment and contribute to a sense of community and belonging. And while I'm pleased that that the multiplier has not risen, we cannot support the freeze, because it is clear that much more could have been done to support the business community. For example, as the explanatory...
Peter Fox: What support does the Welsh Government offer voluntary organisations that work with the emergency services?
Peter Fox: I thank the Member for South Wales East for raising this, and I share his concerns and the industry's concerns, and I refer Members to my register of interests as a farmer. Poultry producers in Wales have been facing the twin pressures that you recognise of avian influenza and surging production costs for some considerable time. Off the back of a meeting of concerned poultry farmers at the...
Peter Fox: Thank you, Minister. Minister, I know you will recognise the important role that shared services between local authorities play in affording valuable services to many thousands of children, enhancing their learning experiences. The amounts of support are often fundamental to the viability and existence of extremely important services. So, it was with dismay that I learned that the new...
Peter Fox: Well, thank you, again, Minister. I take it from that that you don't regret the investment over the 10 years, albeit that it's a huge amount of money, and I know that many Members in here would have liked to have seen that money spent in many other areas, such as health and education, and we might not have found ourselves in the poor situation we're currently in, but that's where we are....
Peter Fox: Thank you, Minister—thank you for that clarity. I think it's really important that the Senedd understands the detail. I know that it'll be in the supplementary budget and we look forward to discussing that earlier. There are always opportunity costs when things have to be adjusted like that. So, it's important that we do understand the implications of those decisions. But, Minister, in a...
Peter Fox: Diolch, Llywydd. Minister, I'm sure all in this Chamber are relieved that negotiations with our teachers and our NHS unions over revised pay offers are looking promising and have averted further strikes by teachers and any NHS staff for the time being. Let's all hope that the offers will be accepted. But, for weeks, Minister, the Welsh Government had claimed that there's no money, meaning...
Peter Fox: 5. How is the Welsh Government working with local authorities to support and fund the continuation of shared services? OQ59139
Peter Fox: The Chancellor's and the Prime Minister's focus on stability, which I'm sure will continue in the spring budget, lays the ground for the UK to focus on growth. With the latest predictions that the UK economy is expected to recover sooner than thought, there is an opportunity in Wales for us to gear up into the high-growth innovative economy that we need to be, building on the assets we have....
Peter Fox: I understand that there is an important discussion to be had about how we fund services here in Wales and that varying tax levels is the go-to for politicians when looking to raise additional revenue, but we shouldn’t forget just how much of the Welsh budget, some £4 billion, is already raised through devolved tax levers; about £2.8 billion is raised through Welsh rates of income tax...
Peter Fox: Thank you, Minister. It was helpful to hear that. Minister, you will be aware from the case work that I have previously written to you about, which touches upon my original question—. The main issue that was raised with me was that there generally isn’t straightforward signposting available for young people with additional learning needs and their families who wish to attend post-16...
Peter Fox: 2. Pa gefnogaeth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n ei rhoi i bobl ifanc ag anghenion dysgu ychwanegol sydd am fynychu i addysg ôl-16, a'u teuluoedd? OQ59089
Peter Fox: What I'm suggesting here is something not dissimilar to what we would do if we were leading councils and we found our schools accruing huge balances and not using those for the purpose they were created for, that resource to help educate our young children. This is purely suggesting that where a council holds significant reserves above a threshold, a small adjustment of £150,000 per £1...
Peter Fox: To do so—. I'll finish this point, Mike, if I may. To do so, a formula would be used by the Welsh Government to enable an adjustment in the RSG where councils hold usable reserves above a set threshold. The money adjusted from the RSG over the threshold would be redistributed to create a sector-wide funding floor to enable all councils to retain council tax levels at the current levels....
Peter Fox: I'm not reflecting on that at the moment.
Peter Fox: My personal view is that there are many people in Wales who can well afford to pay for meals for their children. Would you expect free meals for your children? Would I? I don't think so. So, let's just be honest, and I'll go back again. So, how much is that? Where does the spending of £6 million on election policy, where does £2 million on a constitutional commission and £8 million on...
Peter Fox: Yes, okay, I will do.
Peter Fox: Diolch, Llywydd. I move the amendment in the name of Darren Millar. First of all, I would like to thank the Minister for her statement. I recognise the difficult financial backdrop that this year's budget has been drafted within. There are, hopefully, though, some positive signs that the current high levels of inflation will now start to ease over the course of this year. Thanks to the...
Peter Fox: The Welsh Conservative group will be supporting the LCM today. I know that the Senedd has discussed the merits of the Australia and New Zealand free trade agreement on a number of occasions. And, as the Minister stated, the LCM relates to a Bill that ensures that relevant measures are introduced so that the trade agreement can be implemented. As I understand, Welsh Government officials have...
