Questions Without Notice from the Party Leaders

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:49 pm on 7 February 2023.

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Photo of Lesley Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Labour 1:49, 7 February 2023

Well, we've already used the next two years' reserve, so we've already done that. What we've done in that 3 per cent additional offer is—1.5 per cent is consolidated, as you said, and the other 1.5 per cent isn't. I have to say that we're doing this at risk obviously. This has been the hardest budget I've ever dealt with as a Minister, and I'm sure everybody sitting around me on the front bench would agree. We've done our very best, and I think the Minister and her team, who worked relentlessly to bring this deal forward, and also along with the Minister for Finance and Local Government, who has found that funding, they should be congratulated not criticised for a u-turn or whatever you want to call it. This has been welcomed by the majority of people. We would not, of course, have wanted to see industrial action in the way that we have, and we're very pleased that the majority of trade unions did postpone the action that they were going to take on the sixth and seventh. That will allow time for meaningful negotiations to carry on. The Minister's door is always open, and I think it's really good that we have been able to carry on those discussions. We've also got to ask the NHS to do things. So, I know, as part of the proposal, the Minister is asking them to look at agency working to see what money could be saved from agency staff as well. So, it's about everybody playing their part and working together.