National Assembly Committee agrees final phase of Assembly Commission investment
22 October 2013
The National Assembly for Wales’s Finance Committee has agreed the final phase of the Assembly Commission’s three-year investment plan to improve the service it provides to Assembly Members and the people of Wales.
In welcoming the Commission’s publication of performance indicators to accompany its latest draft budget, the Finance Committee recognised the Commission’s intention to provide rich data to demonstrate the value of the ambitious investment programme it has undertaken.
The Committee also made it clear that the following year’s budget will need to be within the bounds felt by other public bodies in Wales.
Concerns were raised about certain aspects of the Commission’s draft budget including its Welsh language scheme, ICT strategy and the tough targets it has set to reduce its carbon emissions still further.
The Committee has recommended that two of its Members work closely with the Commission to scrutinise expenditure in some of these areas.
“Last year the Finance Committee told the Assembly Commission that it wanted to see results from the ambitious investment programme it had embarked upon,” said Jocelyn Davies AM, Chair of the Finance Committee.
“In publishing its performance indicators the Commission has taken positive steps to demonstrate the high quality service it is aiming to provide to Assembly Members and the people of Wales.
“The Committee has also made it clear that it expects the Commission’s budget to be within the bounds felt by other public bodies in Wales in the following year. We believe that the Commission has grasped that nettle.
“But we do have concerns about two specific aspects of the draft budget, in the areas of ICT and the Welsh language scheme which is why we have asked that two of our own Members work closely with the Commission over the coming year.”
The Committee makes five recommendations in its report including:
A call for additional information about new programmes and emerging risks in future budget, and;
A review of support for school visits to ensure there are no unnecessary barriers for schools from North and West Wales to visit the Assembly.