8. Finance Committee Debate: The Welsh Government's spending priorities for 2023-24

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:12 pm on 13 July 2022.

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Photo of Peredur Owen Griffiths Peredur Owen Griffiths Plaid Cymru 5:12, 13 July 2022

Thank you to all Members and committee Chairs for their input into the debate, and the Minister's response. It was clear that the cost-of-living crisis comes through as a major priority, with many Members referencing it. We heard from many contributors today, and I'm not going to rehearse the arguments and the comments we heard, but the broad areas were mental health, education, paid and unpaid carers, pay and conditions for public sector workers, infrastructure and capital spend, public transport, access to justice, raising revenue, health and social care and housing. The questions raised are many, and the answers are not easy. I hope this debate will help to crystallise some of that for the Minister. We've also heard the Minister's commitment to engage, and I certainly welcome that.

As I mentioned at the beginning of this debate, these issues are not a surprise to Members. They are significant, challenging and complex, but what we did hear from the people of Wales was the need and a willingness to act to do something about the difficulties they are facing. What the people we spoke to need more than anything now is for the Welsh Government to listen to their concerns and to focus its resources appropriately. This will allow us to make the best use  of what we have. This will allow us to have services that are sustainable. This will also allow us to address the concerns and the priorities of the Welsh public.

We will continue to raise these issues with the Minister in committee once the draft budget is laid before this Senedd later this year, and I hope that other committees will do the same within their own subject areas.