6. Debate on the Public Accounts Committee Report: Natural Resources Wales's Annual Report and Accounts 2017-18

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:36 pm on 13 February 2019.

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Photo of Llyr Gruffydd Llyr Gruffydd Plaid Cymru 4:36, 13 February 2019

Well, I'm quoting the figure from the environment committee this morning. It's down 5 per cent in this current financial year, not in the next financial year. That's where we differ on that figure. But that's against, as well, a flat settlement last year—there we are, you've got me confused now as well—last year. So, we know exactly what that situation is. And those difficulties are now being managed, of course, through continued reductions in operating costs, it's seen a job re-evaluation scheme that's reduced its staffing by 50 and, of course, we've seen the whole organisation review happening so soon after the whole organisation came into being, I might say, which will mean that services will be reconfigured in the way that they're delivered. Some services will see delivery more slowly and some not being delivered at all. And there's one other, to conclude, fundamental question to Welsh Government: you have to decide, do you really want a properly funded, properly functioning organisation that is promoting and helping to deliver sustainability in Wales, or will it be starved of the resources it needs to do its job? And in all of that, spare a thought for the staff, the organisation's greatest asset—they are absolutely working wonders in what are very, very difficult circumstances.