Answers to questions not reached in Plenary
19/11/2025Answers are published in the language in which they are provided, with a translation into English of responses provided in Welsh.
Questions For - Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs
How is the Welsh Government supporting the food and drink sector in mid Wales?
In mid Wales the Welsh Government supports the food and drink sector via the HELIX programme at Food Centre Wales and AberInnovation to provide technical and innovation support to businesses, accompanied by the Enterprise for Success, Food and Drink Skills Wales and business capital support through the food business accelerator scheme.
What discussions has the Welsh Government had with the UK Government to ensure that a Wales-specific impact assessment is carried out for the proposed inheritance tax reforms on Welsh farms?
Inheritance tax is a reserved tax, and it is the responsibility of the UK Government to undertake assessments of the proposed changes. I have sought assurances that the changes to inheritance tax do not impact on our plans for the future of sustainable farming in Wales.
What consideration has the Cabinet Secretary given to the conclusions and recommendations of the Welsh Affairs Committee's Farming in Wales in 2025 report?
I would like to thank the Welsh Affairs Committee for its report into farming in Wales and will note its conclusions.
Questions For - Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language
Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the impact of council tax rises on the cost of living?
The setting of budgets and council tax levels every year is a matter for local councils. I ask councils to carefully consider the balance between maintaining services and the financial pressures on households, and to engage meaningfully with communities on the decisions they make.
Will the Cabinet Secretary confirm what audit processes are in place to ensure value for money from Welsh Government funds allocated to businesses?
The Welsh Government has a structured framework of audit and assurance processes designed to safeguard public funds and ensure the funds allocated to businesses deliver value for money. These processes involve multiple layers of governance, controls, monitoring and independent scrutiny.
Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the Welsh Government's ongoing work to reform the Barnett Formula?
A round-table of independent experts has been brought together to discuss practical improvements to the operation of the Barnett formula. Those improvements are designed to address concerns regarding the legitimacy and fairness of the current system. This work will inform a discussion with finance Ministers from across the UK when we meet in February.
What consideration has the Cabinet Secretary given to the Welsh Governance Centre’s recent analysis of Wales’s fiscal framework in their report A Decade On: Reforming Wales' Fiscal Framework?
The Wales Fiscal Analysis report highlights the positive budgetary impact of the arrangements introduced in the Welsh Government’s fiscal framework agreement. We continue to make the case for improvements to the way the existing system operates and securing a better, fairer deal for Wales.