The Autumn Budget Statement

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:15 pm on 15 November 2022.

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Photo of Peter Fox Peter Fox Conservative 2:15, 15 November 2022

I too welcome you, First Minister, back to the Chamber following your illness; it's good to see you. I don't doubt that the Chancellor has some difficult choices to make ahead of the autumn statement, so I'm going to try to be constructive. This will have an impact on the Welsh Government, which I am somewhat sympathetic to. As a former council leader of 13 years, I understand too well what it's like to set a budget when the funding settlement isn't quite what you'd like it to be, and I'll say no more in that regard. However, during these difficult times, it's important that we all work together, rather than against each other, to get us back on track.

I was very encouraged to see the First Minister and the Prime Minister join others at the recent meeting of the British-Irish Council. Presiding Officer, I would like to ask the First Minister whether he took the opportunity to discuss the uprating of pensions and benefits in line with prices with his UK counterparts at the recent meeting, because, as we know, this is something that on this side of the Chamber we agree with. And looking closer to home, what assessment has the Welsh Government made about the value of the devolved grants and allowances that it administers in light of the impact of inflation, as called for by the Bevan Foundation?