8. How have the Welsh Government's spending priorities helped public services recover from the effects of the pandemic? OQ58746

Thank you. As set out in our 2022-23 budget, our priority has been to use every possible lever to deliver our ambitious programme for government, provide the foundations for our post-COVID-19 pandemic recovery, and to move forwards towards a stronger, fairer and a greener Wales. 

Thank you for your answer, Minister. The devastating effects of the pandemic are still, sadly, being felt by public services all across Wales. It would be reasonable to assume, therefore, that your Government will take every opportunity to assist public services to recover. However, a recent meeting of the Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee scrutinising the Welsh Government's accounts for 2020-21 found that there had been an underspend of £526 million. As a result, £155 million of funding allocated to Wales had to be returned to the Treasury. Every week in the Senedd, Minister, we hear about this Government blaming their failures on a lack of funding from Westminster, and yet, it is apparent that you're not spending the money that you already have been given. So, do you agree, Minister, that this is scandalous that you returned £155 million to the Treasury, when our hospitals, schools and local councils in Wales are under severe financial pressure? Thank you.

I don't have the details of that £155 million, so I don't know whether it could be spent on schools or health. There are different budgets, there are different rules and regulations. I'm afraid I don't have the detail to agree with your comments. 

I thank the Trefnydd for that session.