Cadeirydd, our engagement work on the budget for 2023-24 was made up of three strands: the stakeholder event at Llanhilleth Miners Institute in Blaenau Gwent; as mentioned, a workshop with members of the Welsh Youth Parliament; and numerous focus groups with organisations and citizens across Wales. On behalf of the committee, I'd like to thank everyone that has contributed to the work.

However, before turning to the challenges and priorities identified during these sessions, I want to express disappointment that the Welsh Government has once again decided to delay its publication of the draft budget for next year until 13 December at the latest or within four weeks of the UK Government’s autumn budget. Although I do recognise the reasons why the Welsh Government is taking this approach, it is regrettable that this will mean less time for stakeholders to engage with the committee's calls for evidence and scrutiny sessions. Nonetheless, we are grateful that the Minister is open to updating the timetable once the date of the UK Government’s autumn budget is known. We also appreciate the Minister’s willingness to engage with us at a pre-budget stage and look forward to such sessions happening early in the autumn term.

Cadeirydd, I'd like to first talk about the challenges identified. It comes as no surprise to Members when I say that those we spoke to are all facing significant challenges, including inflationary pressures; the cost-of-living crisis; the climate emergency; and COVID recovery, or as a stakeholder told me in Llanhilleth, we are in the midst of a 'perfect storm'. In Llanhilleth, people from front-line services told us that it was costing more to do the same and that many individuals and organisations do not know how to handle rising costs. Stakeholders also told us that the sustainability and affordability of public services is becoming increasingly challenging, but are also increasingly crucial to reducing health inequalities. The Youth Parliament Members we spoke to are also extremely concerned about the cost-of-living crisis, particularly for the most vulnerable in society, and the impact that the widening gap between rich and poor is having on our society.

Turning to specific priorities, the Youth Parliament Members identified health, social services, services for young people, and measures to mitigate the cost-of-living crisis as priorities for next year's budget. Similar themes emerged from discussions in Llanhilleth, which focused on tackling poverty and addressing the cost-of-living crisis; the long-term sustainability of public services; creating a greener Wales; improving services for children and young people; and the impact of increases in transport costs across different sectors. In the citizens focus groups, education and children and young people were prioritised most frequently by participants, followed closely by health and social care.

From those discussions, we can distil these issues into six key priority areas. Firstly, we need to make every effort to get support to those who need it most as quickly as possible. Those in poverty need targeted assistance, and these sadly now include people who work incredibly hard to support vulnerable people in our society, like unpaid carers and child minders. People told us that it wasn't right that those who were doing the caring weren't being cared for themselves, and we desperately need a strategy to make sure that we look after those most at risk.

Secondly, better workforce planning. We were told that there has been a generation of under-investment in training and the public sector workforce and that a cohesive workforce strategy is needed to ensure a resilient public service in Wales and to avoid burn-out and high sickness levels amongst public sector workers.

Thirdly, investment in youth infrastructure. The Welsh Government can and should do more to support young people by providing assistance to avoid the closures of youth centres and provide free transport to improve training, working and social prospects.

Fourthly, increasing capital funding. Those on the front line told us that there is a chronic need to invest in school and hospital buildings and basic infrastructure within public services. 

Next, we would like to see a better use of data to develop more effective and joined-up public services. Higher costs mean that we need to make the most of what we have in order to make our public services more sustainable and affordable. The Welsh Government needs to make the most of the data available, so that services can be planned efficiently. Increasing digital literacy in poorer communities could also act as way of ensuring that services and support are provided locally, where the need is greatest.

Finally, stable green funding. On climate change, the Welsh Government needs to put their money where their mouth is and provide dedicated funding to achieve its net-zero targets.

As we all know, it is very easy to come up with spending wish lists, but far more difficult to identify areas where spending could be scaled back. As a result, we were also keen to hear from participants on this issue. The Youth Parliament Members we spoke to recognised that, whilst it is very difficult to retract funding from areas, difficult decisions need to be made by the Welsh Government in order to prioritise areas of real need. For example, participants noted investment in the Welsh language and international relations, but felt that funding for these areas should not be prioritised above delivering services relating to the public's health and well-being.

We heard interesting views on taxes. Notably, not all Youth Parliament Members were aware that the Welsh Government is responsible for raising some of the money it spends. During the focus groups, most participants were against increasing income tax for those who are already struggling financially and felt that any increase in taxes should be directed at those with higher incomes or large businesses. Whilst a similar view was shared during our stakeholder event, it was noted that further taxation on large businesses could lead to businesses moving outside of Wales. I know that this is an area of particular interest to the Minister, and I'd urge her to look into ways in which awareness of our tax-raising powers in Wales can be improved.

So, as I move this motion in my name on behalf of the committee, I look forward to Members taking this opportunity to outline to the Minister and the Finance Committee what the priorities should be for the financial year ahead. Diolch yn fawr.