A gaf i ddiolch hefyd i’r Cadeirydd am amlinellu blaenoriaethau’r pwyllgor dros y flwyddyn nesaf? Mae’n amlwg ein bod ni’n mynd i gael hydref bishi tu hwnt gyda’r Bil anferth yma ar ddatganoli treth ar dir ac rydym ni’n mynd i fod yn sgrwtineiddio’r gyllideb ddrafft, wrth gwrs, a’r posibilrwydd nawr y byddwn ni’n sgrwtineiddio’r dreth ‘landfill’. Felly, mae lot o waith gyda ni ar y gweill.

I was extremely keen to become a member of the Finance Committee because I think this is a great place to gain an overview of where the Government sets its financial priorities, which obviously reflects its political priorities. The hair-raising predictions of the Institute for Fiscal Studies last week in terms of cuts to public expenditure in future years was extremely sobering. I think at some point there may need to be a much more radical approach to our delivery of services when those cuts continue to come down the track towards us. Health, of course, is an area that takes up almost half of the Welsh budget and I’d also like to press the point that was made by Adam Price: we do have, I think, a restricted ability to scrutinise in this area in the sense that the responsibility for that detailed expenditure is with the health boards and I do think that that is an area—I’m glad to see that you agree that we do need a better ability to scrutinise there.

I think there’s an interesting overlap between the Finance Committee and the Public Accounts Committee. I largely see that division as being the Public Accounts Committee taking an overview of value for money and effectiveness of Government expenditure, whereas our responsibility is directed more towards future expenditure. I think there are a few crucial weeks ahead for the finance Minister in the negotiation of the financial framework of the UK Government. I’d like to ask whether we will make time to ensure that we are able to scrutinise any deal that is landed by the Minister in that regard. I’m particularly interested in knowing about the borrowing aspects of any new financial agreement. I’d just like confirmation that that is something we will make time for.

I’m also extremely keen as a committee member to look at the mid- to long-term financial prospects for Wales. Whilst we are in this age of Brexit, and any forecasts in relation to the economy and regulatory framework and trade framework are difficult at the moment, I think we need to take a long, hard look at the demographic changes that are going to be coming down the track in Wales. We need to do some long-term financial planning and I think that that is a role that I would like our committee to take on and I’d like to ask you whether you would agree with that. I look forward to working with the Chair and all of the members of the committee, because I think this is a crucial committee for the Assembly.