3/MA: Will the Minister make a statement on the considerations in the Williams review on the future of public services in Wales?
Janet Finch-Saunders:
Minister, the remit of the commission on public service governance and delivery is wide ranging, encompassing how public services delivery meets the needs of the people of Wales, their sustainability, their optimal delivery in ensuring efficiency, effectiveness, accessibility and supporting continuous improvement. Do you agree with comments already circulating, made by you and other Ministers, with regard to the Williams report, that there has been too great a focus on the implications of the commission’s report on local government reorganisation only and not enough on the future delivery of all public services here in Wales?
Lesley Griffiths:
I certainly have not made comments, as you referred to, and I cannot think of any other comments that have come from Ministers. We await the report from the commission, which is due to be delivered to the First Minister by the end of this year or early January. I will not speculate on what it will recommend.
4/ PB:Will the Minister make a statement on her plans to reorganise local government?
Janet Finch-Saunders:
Thank you, Presiding Officer. Although the overall focus is on the delivery of our public services here in Wales, the Williams commission was established to look at the structure of local government as one aspect of its remit, yet you have said publicly that 22 councils may not be sustainable and the First Minister has said that he does not believe that anyone still believes in maintaining the 22-council local authority structure. Minister, is it not the case that you have already started to pre-empt the findings of this independent commission?
Lesley Griffiths:
I have not, but I think that other Members in this Chamber have.
Janet Finch-Saunders:
Minister, is it not a fact that we would not be discussing a reorganisation that may potentially cost £500 million if your collaboration agenda was more than, as described by your leader of Labour-run Blaenau Gwent, hot air? In its committee evidence, the Wales Audit Office said that urgent decisions need to be taken and transformative change implemented to ensure the continued delivery of our statutory services. Furthermore—
Presiding Officer:
Are you coming to the question?
Janet Finch-Saunders:
Yes. Furthermore, Hedley McCarthy said that this Welsh Government –
Presiding Officer:
Are you coming to the question?
Janet Finch-Saunders:
Yes. This Welsh Government is either unwilling or unable to tackle the excessive regulation identified in the Beecham report. Is it not the case this this is less about local government reorganisation, that Welsh Government’s disorganisation?
Lesley Griffiths:
No.