Latest news with #CardiffUniversity
Western Telegraph
a day ago
- Business
- Western Telegraph
Senedd hears future generations law ‘lacks teeth'
The Senedd's equality committee took evidence as part of follow-up scrutiny a decade on from the Welsh parliament passing the Well-being of Future Generations Act in 2015. 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'. Mr Antoniw, who was involved in early stages of scrutiny of the then-bill, said: 'It started off… as a sustainability bill until no one could actually define what they meant by sustainability… came up with the term future generations and… that might be seen to be equally nebulous.' As well as describing the Act as vague, the former minister suggested Wales' future generations commissioner has few – if any – powers to hold public bodies to account. He said: 'I always thought that was a mistake right from the beginning, [you] don't give it proper teeth to actually have the impact that shifts decision making.' Calvin Jones, an environmental economist, said the commissioner and his predecessor told him their only 'big stick' is to 'name and shame' which they are reluctant to do. 'As soon as you get the stick out, people take their eyes off the carrot,' he said. 'There's this constant tension between wanting to chivvy the laggards along but realising once you get a reputation as somebody who's an auditor effectively then games start being played and boxes start being ticked. 'That tension has always stymied the way in which the commissioners have been prepared to name and shame which was, I think, the only serious bit of teeth in the Act.' Prof Jones, who left Cardiff University in May, suggested Audit Wales should have more of a role in holding public bodies to account in a similar way to their bookkeeping duties. He warned of a major lack of funding for the commissioner's office, describing the money allocated by the Welsh Government as akin to using a sticking plaster on the Titanic.
South Wales Argus
2 days ago
- Business
- South Wales Argus
National Insurance rise costs Welsh universities 18m a year
The increase in employer contributions has led to higher expenses and deepened financial challenges in the higher education sector. The party said the additional cost is forcing universities to make difficult decisions, including staff cuts and course closures. David Chadwick, Welsh Liberal Democrat MP, said: "Labour's jobs tax is yet another blow to Welsh universities, coming at a time when they're already facing mounting financial challenges. "It's completely unacceptable that Welsh universities are now being saddled with millions in extra costs just to meet a tax increase that could and should have been avoided." Cardiff University faces the largest impact, with a £6.7 million rise in annual National Insurance costs. Swansea University will see an additional £3.5 million in employer contributions. Universities have said the increase came as a surprise and has placed further strain on finances.
South Wales Argus
2 days ago
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Committee warns Welsh universities in 'precarious position'
This statement comes after an evidence session with leaders of all nine Welsh universities, focusing on their finances and the challenges they face. Concerns raised include declining admissions from Welsh young people, decreasing international student numbers, and tuition fees that are failing to keep pace with inflation. The committee, chaired by Ruth Jones, MP for Newport West and Islwyn, stressed the need for "funding security and long-term policy stability." They are urging the UK Government to re-evaluate how universities are supported, in collaboration with the Welsh Government, to ensure a sustainable future for higher education institutions. The committee also noted the significant role universities play in the Industrial Strategy, which acknowledges their contributions to skills and innovation. Professor Wendy Larner from Cardiff University described the situation as "an existential moment for universities," adding that they "need to be different for the future." Professor Paul Boyle CBE from Swansea University highlighted the difficulty of achieving financial sustainability within the current system, saying it "does not lend itself to that sustainability." The committee emphasised the unsustainability of the current system and called for action from the UK Government and its Welsh Government partners as part of "promised major reforms for higher education." They believe addressing these issues is crucial for the economic and civic well-being of communities across Wales.
South Wales Argus
3 days ago
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Senedd hears future generations law ‘lacks teeth'
The Senedd's equality committee took evidence as part of follow-up scrutiny a decade on from the Welsh parliament passing the Well-being of Future Generations Act in 2015. 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'. Mr Antoniw, who was involved in early stages of scrutiny of the then-bill, said: 'It started off… as a sustainability bill until no one could actually define what they meant by sustainability… came up with the term future generations and… that might be seen to be equally nebulous.' As well as describing the Act as vague, the former minister suggested Wales' future generations commissioner has few – if any – powers to hold public bodies to account. He said: 'I always thought that was a mistake right from the beginning, [you] don't give it proper teeth to actually have the impact that shifts decision making.' Calvin Jones, an environmental economist, said the commissioner and his predecessor told him their only 'big stick' is to 'name and shame' which they are reluctant to do. 'As soon as you get the stick out, people take their eyes off the carrot,' he said. 'There's this constant tension between wanting to chivvy the laggards along but realising once you get a reputation as somebody who's an auditor effectively then games start being played and boxes start being ticked. 'That tension has always stymied the way in which the commissioners have been prepared to name and shame which was, I think, the only serious bit of teeth in the Act.' Prof Jones, who left Cardiff University in May, suggested Audit Wales should have more of a role in holding public bodies to account in a similar way to their bookkeeping duties. He warned of a major lack of funding for the commissioner's office, describing the money allocated by the Welsh Government as akin to using a sticking plaster on the Titanic.
South Wales Guardian
3 days ago
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
Senedd hears future generations law ‘lacks teeth'
The Senedd's equality committee took evidence as part of follow-up scrutiny a decade on from the Welsh parliament passing the Well-being of Future Generations Act in 2015. 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'. Mr Antoniw, who was involved in early stages of scrutiny of the then-bill, said: 'It started off… as a sustainability bill until no one could actually define what they meant by sustainability… came up with the term future generations and… that might be seen to be equally nebulous.' As well as describing the Act as vague, the former minister suggested Wales' future generations commissioner has few – if any – powers to hold public bodies to account. He said: 'I always thought that was a mistake right from the beginning, [you] don't give it proper teeth to actually have the impact that shifts decision making.' Calvin Jones, an environmental economist, said the commissioner and his predecessor told him their only 'big stick' is to 'name and shame' which they are reluctant to do. 'As soon as you get the stick out, people take their eyes off the carrot,' he said. 'There's this constant tension between wanting to chivvy the laggards along but realising once you get a reputation as somebody who's an auditor effectively then games start being played and boxes start being ticked. 'That tension has always stymied the way in which the commissioners have been prepared to name and shame which was, I think, the only serious bit of teeth in the Act.' Prof Jones, who left Cardiff University in May, suggested Audit Wales should have more of a role in holding public bodies to account in a similar way to their bookkeeping duties. He warned of a major lack of funding for the commissioner's office, describing the money allocated by the Welsh Government as akin to using a sticking plaster on the Titanic.
