A BUDGET TO PROTECT LOCAL SERVICES

MICK ANTONIW WELCOMES BUDGET TO PROTECT SERVICES IN PONTYPRIDD

Pontypridd AM Mick Antoniw has welcomed the Welsh Government’s budget which protects local services from the damage of Tory austerity.
The Welsh Government has set out its spending plans for the next year, which after seven years of Tory austerity and has seen the block grant in Wales reduced by £1.2 billion. Mark Drakeford, the Cabinet Secretary of Finance set out plans for capital and revenue spending, which include:

• An additional £230m in 2018-19 and £220m in 2019-20 for NHS Wales
• Protection for social care and education
• No cuts to the Supporting People grant – an additional £10m will be allocated in each year to maintain 2017-18 levels
• Investing £70m over 2 years for the flagship childcare offer
• An extra £10m to tackle homelessness in each year.

• Releasing £340m, as part of our £1.4bn investment, towards the flagship commitment to build 20,000 affordable homes
• An extra £40m to accelerate our 21st Century Schools programme;
• An extra £90m for the NHS Wales capital programme
• Capital funding will be ear-marked in reserves to buy new rolling stock for the new Wales and Borders franchise, subject to the outcome of the procurement process.

Mick Antoniw AM said:
“More money for our local health services is the right thing to do as is protecting social care and education budgets. In particular, it will mean more money for the 21st Century Schools programme. Locally we’ve seen how this has benefitted Y Pant and Tonyrefail Comprehensive schools, so this will allow the opportunity for even more of our local schools to be transformed.”
“We have all seen more homeless people on our streets as a result of the UK Government’s welfare cuts. The Welsh Government is right to spend an additional £10m to help tackle this.”
“Budgets to support vulnerable people were cut in England years ago but the Welsh Government has continued to protect these budgets, helping some of our most vulnerable residents in Pontypridd.
“We all know that the UK Government are determined to cut our essential public services. They have slashed the money available to spend on public services in Wales, but despite this the Welsh Government’s budget demonstrates that Welsh Labour is determined to protect our communities.”