9. Will the Minister provide an update on the progression of collaborative working across local authorities? OAQ(5)0040(FLG)

I thank Joyce Watson for the question. Local authorities have many collaborative arrangements already in place across Wales. These arrangements not only deliver better services for people, but can do so more effectively and efficiently. Building on this, my proposals for local government reform are aimed at more systematic and mandatory collaboration between authorities in regional arrangements.

I thank you for that answer, Cabinet Secretary. I don’t know whether you did watch last night’s BBC Two programme ‘Who’s Spending Britain’s Billions?’, but it did actually outline a collaboration that maybe people don’t think is worthy of spending millions of pounds on—when the Plaid Cymru leader of Ceredigion was asked specifically about a contract with PricewaterhouseCoopers, spending that large amount of money, informing them how to close down facilities in order to save money, and also how to privatise local services. So, as you foster greater local authority collaboration, Cabinet Secretary, and also financial collaboration, would you please examine closely the use of these so-called risk and reward contracts? Because I also was outside yesterday with Unison representatives who are actually, quite rightly, in my opinion, aggrieved at that use of money.

Thank you for the question. I’m afraid I didn’t see the television programme. I spent my evening in the company of my questions folder and the advice I needed before appearing before the Finance Committee this morning. But, I hear what the Member says, and of course, will reflect carefully on it in my next conversations with local authorities.