2. Business Statement and Announcement

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:40 pm on 28 March 2023.

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Photo of Huw Irranca-Davies Huw Irranca-Davies Labour 2:40, 28 March 2023

Could I ask for two statements, please? The first is on the support that's available for swimming pools to get us through the runaway costs that they are facing at the moment. Swimming pools tend to be something of a money pit to run at normal times; at the moment, they're under intense pressure. Some of the public pools in my area have contacted me to ask the question, which is a genuine question—. Apparently, there has been additional money—new money, according to the Chancellor—announced for distribution via Sport England to pools within England for the next 12 months. So, they're asking—I have to say they're quite sceptical about this—whether we can hear from the Welsh Government whether there are any consequentials that we'll be able to pass on to pools here. I don't expect you can answer now, Trefnydd, on that, but a statement on it would be really welcome. 

The second statement I'd like to ask for is one on the money that has now been clawed back to the UK Treasury—the £155.5 million. I know the committee has reported on this, but the precedent in previous years has been to be flexible in this. I understand that the finance Minister made suggestions to the Treasury to actually change this into capital from revenue spending. This was declined, and several options were declined. We have, in effect, lost £155.5 million. I would like to see a statement on that, how we can avoid this in future, and why it was clawed back from Wales, when, actually, the amount was significantly bigger in some UK Government departments. I'd like to see a statement on that. Thank you, Trefnydd.