Lee Waters AM praises Welsh Labour Government’s draft budget

Lee Waters AM has praised the Welsh Labour Government’s draft budget, for doing it’s best to protect Wales from the worst impacts of austerity.

“Eight years of cuts have had a big impact on public services” the Llanelli AM said. “The Assembly doesn’t have the ability to stop the cuts by the Tories in London but once again we’re doing our best to make sure that spending decisions protect key services” he added.

The draft Budget 2019-20 has been developed against the backdrop of continued austerity and the ongoing uncertainty associated with Brexit.

The Welsh Government’s plans include:

• More than £500 million extra for health and social care.

• An additional £50 million for social care in 2019-20

• £15 million additional funding for schools.

• A package of £12.5 million of measures to help tackle child poverty.

The draft budget contains measures aimed at protecting some of the most vulnerable people, including:

• More than £3m to help parents meet the everyday costs associated with sending their children to school, including school uniforms and sports kits.

• £7m to provide thousands more children with free school meals in Wales.

• The budget contained a measures totalling £12.5m to help tackle child poverty.

• Continued funding of the Supporting People programme, to help people live independently.

The Welsh Government also announced plans to exempt care leavers from paying council tax until the age of 25 and new rules to remove charitable relief from independent schools and private hospitals in Wales, bringing them into line with state-funded schools and NHS hospitals for the payment of taxes to fund local services.

Lee Waters AM said:

“I am pleased the Welsh Government has been able to find additional funding to help some of our most vulnerable. Exempting care leavers from paying council tax is a really important step in helping young adults live independently.

“I will continue to press the Welsh Government to ensure that Prince Philip Hospital and schools in Llanelli receive the investment they need for the future.

“But the impact of austerity is very real. If the Welsh Government budget had grown in line with the economy since 2010 we’d have £4bn more to invest. If it had moved in line with the growth in public expenditure achieved over the 50 years prior to 2010, the Welsh Government budget would be £6bn higher. The Tory cuts are hitting Llanelli hard.”