Of course I agree that the formula should rely on the most up-to-date data possible. That’s why I was pleased to agree the recommendations in relation to population numbers and school pupil numbers. I think every effort is made, both by local authority partners and those who advise them, to make sure that the formula does depend on the most reliable data available. During my visits around Wales, meeting all 22 local authority leaders, every one of them had something to say about the way the formula applied in their own localities.

What I’ve agreed with the members of the group that advises the Government is that we will begin the next year’s round of consideration of the formula with a more open seminar, in which we will look at the way the formula currently operates and think of whether there are better ways in which we might be able to reform it for the future, and we’ll do that in an open-minded way with our partners.