“It’s not adding up”: Vast discrepancies in Labour budget says Plaid Cymru

PLAID Cymru has called for the Finance Minister to appear before the Finance Committee to explain what it calls a “questionably late” response to the widely publicised gaps in the Welsh budget, leaving public services “in limbo”.

Cuts have been made throughout the Welsh government’s budget to move cash to the NHS and to keep trains running after the Labour Government have had to find more than £600m to balance their books between now and next April.

Peredur Owen Griffiths MS, Plaid Cymru’s spokesperson on finance has highlighted the “vast discrepancies” between “the level of initial allocated funding and the actual level of spending”.

Mr Owen Griffiths has also asked for clarity on what impact “adding to the NHS shortfall” will have on the NHS in Wales, and whether targeted intervention across Wales’ health boards is going to be “a long-term feature.”

Six of the seven major health boards failed break even during the last 3 years – in violation of their statutory duties – and is a factor in why they are all in some form of targeted intervention.

Plaid Cymru Spokesperson for Finance and Local Government in the Senedd, Peredur Owen Griffiths MS said:

“Poor management from the Labour government in Cardiff and an unfair funding formula from Westminster has left the Welsh Government scrambling to fill gaps in already stretched public services.

“Labour have been telling us since August that they’ve been working to address a £900m blackhole in their budget – which is almost 5% of the entire block grant for the current financial year. I’m sure many will be scratching their heads as to how they’ve been able to find an additional £550m now.

“There are vast discrepancies here between the level of initial allocated funding and the actual level of spending. This raises questions over how the figures were derived in the first place. It doesn’t add up.

“Meanwhile, the London parties remain wedded to giving Wales an unfair funding settlement and refuse to give us greater powers over our economy which would allow us to control our finances better.

“Meanwhile, the London parties remain wedded to an unfair funding settlement which leaves Wales at a great disadvantage.

“In light of the changes to their spending commitments, the Labour Government must provide assurance to the public that frontline services will be sufficiently supported, especially with the inevitable challenges to come through the winter months.

“Adding to the shortfall in the NHS will put extra pressure on health boards to break even and must raise questions as to whether government expects the escalated levels of government intervention to be a long-term feature – adding to the pressure being felt by our health service. We must protect such services, particularly for those vulnerable communities that rely upon them.”