Rebecca Evans: Diolch. I'd like to thank colleagues for their interest and their contributions today, and colleagues have made it very clear that we have huge appreciation for the work that police officers do in communities across Wales, and I do share those concerns that have been raised about morale amongst police officers at the moment. But, here in Wales, they are an absolutely key part of our...
Rebecca Evans: Diolch. Today, I'm presenting to the Senedd, for its approval, details of the Welsh Government's contribution to the core revenue funding for the four police and crime commissioners in Wales for 2023-24. Firstly, I'd like to record my gratitude to the police for their work in our communities. Although there is a vital, ongoing debate about the minority of police officers who have not lived...
Rebecca Evans: I will give way when I've finished my sentence.
Rebecca Evans: I do recognise that, and of course you'll see that we also are expecting net additional revenue here in Wales as a result of the block grant adjustment. It's just simply important and responsible to consider the risks before we seek to devolve powers any further, and of course all of that needs to be seen within the context of our strategic tax policy priorities, and of course the future of...
Rebecca Evans: I'll happily explore the issue between Austria and Germany. I would suggest that the situation is somewhat different here in Wales, given the fact that we are talking about different tax rates operating within the United Kingdom, and I will come onto that point when we look at the experience of Scotland, very shortly, as well. Mike. [Interruption.] Of course.
Rebecca Evans: Yes, and that would be another one of those challenges, and again I'll come onto the Scottish experience there as well. Just to round off what I was saying in relation to the higher bands, growth in revenues for those two bands does tend to be more volatile from year to year than basic rate revenues, and they do vary more between parts of the United Kingdom, and that does affect the...
Rebecca Evans: Of course.
Rebecca Evans: Yes, so that's set out in legislation and in guidance; we use the same kind of thing for council tax as well. So, obviously, Welsh Government officials and HMRC officials are in constant contact, both in terms of Welsh Treasury and the local government finance officials as well. So, I think that we have a shared understanding as to what a primary home would be. And we see that in effect, if...
Rebecca Evans: Of course.
Rebecca Evans: Yes, I am, absolutely, going to come on to the points within the motion that relate to the rates and bands and so on, but I did want to add that there is considerable uncertainty relating to the impact of raising the higher and additional rates. And the evidence base for any behavioural impact that might occur in relation to any material increase to higher or additional taxpayers is...
Rebecca Evans: Diolch, Llywydd. Well, this has been a really interesting debate this afternoon, and I absolutely agree with Mike Hedges that it is really good to be talking about tax in a more open and searching way that is just outside of our normal budget-setting process. So, long may that continue. And Adam Price said at the start that he feared it might be seen as a bit of a dry debate, but I think it's...
Rebecca Evans: Formally.
Rebecca Evans: Of course, our capital budget falls by 8 per cent in real terms in the next financial year, so hearing about additional ideas from the Conservative benches as to how we could be spending capital is difficult to swallow when there wasn't a single extra penny of capital coming in the autumn statement. Of course, the Chancellor has the opportunity to rectify that in the spring statement, and we...
Rebecca Evans: Diolch, and thank you to all colleagues for what I think has been a really helpful debate. We've heard so many different priorities coming forward: dentistry, building safety, the health Minister’s six priorities for health, the EMA, social care workforce, highways, renewable energy, support for care leavers, the Welsh language, bus services, homelessness provision, farm funding, mental...
Rebecca Evans: Diolch. I'm pleased to open this afternoon's debate on the Welsh Government's draft budget for 2023-24. Since we first had the opportunity to debate the draft budget in the Senedd on 13 December, Senedd committees have been busy scrutinising our spending plans. I welcome the very constructive sessions that I have had with the Finance Committee and that my ministerial colleagues have had with...
Rebecca Evans: I'll just take the opportunity to thank both committees for their work. I think the important points that both Chairs have made this afternoon go certainly well beyond the scope of the narrow regulations that we are discussing this afternoon, but I think the points that were made were really important, and I'm glad that we've been able to come to a good conclusion with the work in terms of...
Rebecca Evans: The Landfill Disposals Tax (Tax Rates) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2022 relate to setting the 2023-24 tax rates for landfill disposals tax. They were made using the made affirmative procedure. These regulations set the standard, lower and unauthorised disposal rates for landfill disposals tax, which, subject to the outcome of today's debate, will apply to taxable disposals made on or...
Rebecca Evans: The Welsh Government's culture division does support the delivery of local cultural services, including museums, which are non-statutory services, as you say. Funding is available to enable museums to meet and maintain the museum accreditation, including providing access to the annual capital transformation grant scheme. The culture division also provides a programme of training and workforce...
Rebecca Evans: I meet regularly with all local authorities to discuss key issues that affect us all, including the current financial challenges. It is the responsibility of each local authority to determine how they deliver their non-statutory services based on local priorities.
Rebecca Evans: Thank you very much for that question. I can say that Welsh Treasury officials are part of the working group that has been established to take forward the review of the unit rate. Obviously, it's not straightforward, and they will be looking at the impacts of those different models in terms of agreeing the rate. At the moment, the current free school meal unit rate across local authorities is...
