I am not going to object to the Commission's budget. I do, however, want to make three points. Firstly, I want to reiterate recommendation 2 from the Finance Committee:

'In line with the statement of principles, the Committee recommends that the Commission should fund in-year pressures on the budget it has control over by making in-year savings and efficiencies, rather than through supplementary budgets.' 

This is difficult, but it's what other public sector bodies have to do. It can be difficult for the Commission. I would say it's a lot easier for the Commission than Natural Resources Wales or council social services departments to make those savings.

Secondly, the Commission has several layers of management. Other public sector organisations have been delayering and producing flatter and flatter structures. Can I urge the Commission to produce a flatter structure, and, as vacancies become available, move towards a flatter, more efficient and less costly structure?

Finally, on capital expenditure, we saw, a few years ago, approximately £2 million spent on remodelling the ground floor of Tŷ Hywel. This year, we have seen a television replacement programme. The one that has been removed from my Cardiff office is newer than the one I have at home. Of course, no-one asked me if I wanted a larger, newer one. As I only use it to follow Senedd proceedings in my office, the old one was sufficient. Working computers and operating systems still supported by Microsoft are being replaced, or in the case of one in my Cardiff office, disabled. I have previously asked for a service level agreement for individual Members. I'll again ask for a service level agreement, but I keep on being told the Commission is there to support Members. In those immortal words, 'You could have fooled me.' I think that it is important that you tell us what I can expect, because what I get from the Commission is, I think, a fairly poor service for the cost. If you divide what is being spent by 60, I don't think I'm getting anywhere near value for money for that.

Finally, all the money spent on the Commission is money not available for other public services. We're taking money out of direct public services for the Commission, so we must make sure what the Commission does is of benefit. Thank you.