What the Welsh Labour Government’s Budget could deliver for education and housing

Six days ahead of the Senedd vote to pass the Welsh Government’s Budget, Cabinet Secretaries for Education and Housing, Lynne Neagle and Jayne Bryant are highlighting what could be in store for education and housing across Wales if cross-party Senedd members put the people of Wales ahead of party politics.

The Welsh Labour Government’s 2025-2026 Budget has allocated funding to deliver thousands of all-age apprenticeships, across 23 sectors, from education to engineering, from tourism to transport, hair and beauty to hospitality.

To offer opportunity to every family, the Welsh Labour Government wants to provide more money to support children with additional learning needs and to give the £40 a week Education Maintenance Allowance to thousands more students.

There is a whopping £444 million on offer to meet housing pressures across Wales, and the ambition to retain the current Help to Buy Wales scheme, helping first-time buyers get on the property ladder.

The Welsh Labour Government also wants to future-proof existing homes by supporting homeowners to retrofit and decarbonise their homes by funding heat pumps and solar panels.

But none of this will come to pass if the Welsh Government’s Budget doesn’t win the vote on Tuesday 5 March.

First Minister Eluned Morgan said:

“We want Wales to be the land of opportunity for every family – that is why this Budget has prioritised funding for education and housing – the place where opportunity begins.

“There are no limits to our ambitions for the opportunities that Wales can offer.

“Where is the ambition from Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Conservatives? If they agree with us that every family in Wales should have opportunities, they’ll vote for this Budget.”

Cabinet Secretary for Education Lynne Neagle said:

“In Wales, we believe that families deserve opportunities no matter their background or skillset. You can see this in our programme of free school meals, 21st century schools, and the Education Maintenance Allowance.

“In their General Election manifesto, Plaid Cymru agreed with us on a lot of what we’re delivering – yet now they’re choosing to play a political stunt at the expense of the families of Wales by wavering on whether to back this Budget.

“Plaid Cymru need to decide – do they back more money for additional learning needs, schools, and a wider EMA scheme, or was it all just empty manifesto promises?”

Cabinet Secretary for Housing Jayne Bryant said:

“This Budget means more money for housing, more help for first-time buyers, and making our homes fit for the future.

“Liz Truss’ mini-Budget made Welsh mortgage prices soar, yet the Welsh Conservatives take no responsibility and show no interest in helping to clean up the mess that their party made.

“We know that opportunity begins at home, and this Budget puts money behind this mission.”

This Budget is central to delivering First Minister, Eluned Morgan’s priorities for Government: connected communities; jobs and green growth; opportunities for every family; and iechyd da – better health.