The Senedd debated dozens of final changes to plans for a £1.30-a-night tourism levy, with the tax set to get the go-ahead in a key vote next week.
Author: Chris Haines - ICNN Senedd Reporter
Welsh Government plans ‘business-as-usual’ budget
Mark Drakeford confirmed the Welsh Government will publish a “business-as-usual” budget in the autumn as the next Senedd election nears.
‘We’ve seen only 35 jobs’: north Wales growth deal ‘way off’ 4,200 target
The £1bn north Wales growth deal aimed to create around 4,200 jobs when it was signed four-and-a-half years ago – but has delivered only 35 so far, a committee heard.
Swansea Bay city deal ‘well on its way’
The Swansea Bay city deal is “well on its way” despite having created less than 900 jobs against an initial target of more than 9,000, a committee heard.
Senedd unites to call for fairer funding
Rhun ap Iorwerth led a debate calling for the “outdated and unfair” Barnett formula to be scrapped, warning Wales gets a “poor deal”.
‘Like an episode of Yes Minister’: civil servants ‘obstructed’ public appointments inquiry
Welsh Government bigwigs obstructed an inquiry into public appointments then failed to accept a single one of its recommendations, a watchdog committee warned.
University cuts ‘affecting student mental health’
Students called for an overhaul to make Welsh universities more financially sustainable amid concerns about the uncertainty of sweeping cuts impacting on mental health.
‘Real danger a Welsh university could collapse next year’
Dan Beard, who chairs Unison Cymru’s higher education forum, told the Senedd’s education committee: “Without change, we will see universities collapsing or contracting significantly.”
Future generations law ‘lacks teeth and funding’
Labour’s Mick Antoniw warned the Act, which aims to put sustainable development at the heart of decision making, lacks impetus and risks being a “bureaucratic tick-box exercise”.
‘Physics education is at breaking point’: calls for teaching incentives to match England’s
Physics education is at breaking point in Wales due to a lack of teachers, yet training bursaries are £14,000 higher across the border in England, a committee heard.