Thank you very much, Dirprwy Lywydd. I am very pleased to speak in this debate today on behalf of the Finance Committee. The committee met to consider the Welsh Government’s second supplementary budget for 2019-20 on 12 February. Our report makes a number of recommendations, and I will briefly cover some of those today.

As mentioned during our earlier debate on the final budget for 2020-21, the committee recognised that the expected UK budget on 11 March may impact on the Welsh Government’s funding. In our report on the second supplementary budget, we have reiterated our previous recommendation that details should be made available to the committee as soon as possible after the UK budget, and specifically in relation to the 2019-20 funding.

We have made a number of recommendations in relation to the way the Welsh Government works with the UK Government, including continuing to seek an increase in the annual carry forward of financial transactions capital, and whilst not specific to this supplementary budget, we have also requested an update on any consequential funding following the UK Government’s HS2 announcement.

The committee considered the way in which the Welsh Government uses reserves, holding capital and revenue reserves, with individual departments also holding funding for in-year contingencies. We have asked for additional details to be provided on the outturn report in order to understand the end-of-year position and what changes have been made since this supplementary budget.

Whilst the supplementary budget includes transfers out of flood risk and water management, the committee notes the Minister’s intentions to provide an emergency relief scheme to support those who have been impacted by the recent flooding. The committee recognises the Minister’s actions in providing financial help and would be supportive of a need to utilise section 128 powers should this be required to reflect any additional financial support provided in 2019-20.

We asked for an update on the position in relation to Brexit funding. The Minister told us that she expected to be able to access Wales’s full entitlement of EU funds. Our previous report on preparations for replacing EU funding recommended that the Welsh Government should be responsible for the administration and management of the shared prosperity fund in Wales. The Minister told us that the Welsh Government is progressing how it would develop and administer such a scheme.

Briefly, we had two supplementary budget requests, one from the Assembly Commission and one from the auditor general and the Wales Audit Office. Whilst we are content with both, we have made one recommendation to the WAO with regard to fees income.

Finally, we have noted the Minister's amendment to today's motion, and as the committee considered the explanatory note submitted by the Wales Audit Office, which included the correct figure for accruing resources, we are content with the proposed amendment.