Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:28 pm on 17 October 2017.
Jane Hutt
Labour
2:28,
17 October 2017
I thank Angela Burns for both those questions. Perhaps in response to the first one I could take the opportunity to clarify that Betsi Cadwaladr is not set to overspend by £50 million this year, but the board have identified a significant risk that they may not achieve their planned £26 million deficit. But they are properly using their bond governance to address this. The health board has recognised the risk and are finalising a financial recovery plan to ensure that they achieve the £26 million deficit, which represents a control total. These actions will materially improve their forecast. Also, if I could add to this point, in response to your question, as part of the special measures arrangements, officials, since August, raised concerns on the financial performance to date and the potential impact on the forecast deficit. They’ve had additional escalation meetings with health board executives on performance and finance and an independent financial governance review has been commissioned, and that will cover the development, adoption and performance of the 2017-18 financial plan, and the Cabinet Secretary, along with the NHS Wales chief executive, has met with the chair and chief executive of Betsi Cadwaladr. So, I hope that gives you a robust response to your question.
On your second question, which Simon Thomas also raised with the First Minister, it is important that we share and air what the Government is doing in response to the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales’s report on safeguarding children in Powys. You know that the Minister has issued a written statement. I think it’s probably gone out by now, and that statement has outlined the action being taken by the Welsh Government in relation to part A of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, which has resulted in a warning notice being issued to Powys County Council today. That sets out what the Welsh Government expects from Powys County Council, in terms of addressing the serious concerns raised in the CSSIW inspection report. The note has been laid before the National Assembly for Wales today. Powys must submit an improvement plan within 20 days, and the Minister will report back to the National Assembly for Wales in 90 days.
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