As finance minister, Hutt, a long-standing Labour member of the Welsh government, has led Cardiff’s response to the Silk Commission on devolution of greater fiscal powers to Wales and the subsequent St David’s Day announcement.
Hutt said she was honoured to receive CIPFA membership. Effective budget planning and financial management were essential to meeting ongoing fiscal challenges, she said.
“Our careful financial management has enabled us to manage reductions effectively, protecting our key public services from the full impact of the UK government’s austerity programme. This has been the most constrained period for public finance since the creation of the Assembly.
“We are also implementing the devolution of further fiscal powers, which is hugely important. While we introduce the first ever Welsh tax laws and a Welsh Revenue Authority to manage those powers, I will continue to press the UK government for a fairer funding settlement for Wales as part of our ongoing discussions around fiscal devolution.”
CIPFA chief executive Rob Whiteman said he was delighted to award Hutt with honorary institute membership.
“Jane is an outstanding public servant who has driven forward a series of major reforms to secure more financial powers for Wales and strengthen the Welsh economy,” he said.
“Her stewardship of Wales’ public finances reflects many of the values and professionalism that CIPFA promotes and her honorary membership is richly deserved.”
Hutt will address the CIPFA Wales annual conference this November. Read Public Finance’s 2013 interview with her.
