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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Economy 'top priority' for £15bn Welsh government budget | Economy 'top priority' for £15bn Welsh government budget |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Welsh government said it would use its £15bn budget to help the economy when it revealed its spending plans for next year. | The Welsh government said it would use its £15bn budget to help the economy when it revealed its spending plans for next year. |
| Finance Minister Jane Hutt set out what she said was a draft budget to stimulate growth and which protected funding for health. | Finance Minister Jane Hutt set out what she said was a draft budget to stimulate growth and which protected funding for health. |
| She also promised to uphold universal benefits, such as free prescriptions. | She also promised to uphold universal benefits, such as free prescriptions. |
| The Conservatives said it "snubbed" the NHS and Liberal Democrats called for more funding for the poorest pupils. | The Conservatives said it "snubbed" the NHS and Liberal Democrats called for more funding for the poorest pupils. |
| 'Prosperity' | 'Prosperity' |
| Ms Hutt said: "Our number one priority is to deliver a budget for growth and jobs which will create a more prosperous Wales, by encouraging economic growth and creating and sustaining jobs." | Ms Hutt said: "Our number one priority is to deliver a budget for growth and jobs which will create a more prosperous Wales, by encouraging economic growth and creating and sustaining jobs." |
| Health, social services and children remains the biggest department with a budget of more than £6.4bn. | Health, social services and children remains the biggest department with a budget of more than £6.4bn. |
| But its biggest item of expenditure - revenue funding for NHS delivery - is reducing by £12.1m next year. | |
| Officials say some £11m of that is money local health boards borrowed for a central fund which helps public services invest in more efficient practices and which is now being repaid. The rest has been moved within the health department's budget. | |
| The capital funding announced includes £40m for the next stage of dualling the A465 Heads of the Valleys road between Brynmawr and Tredegar. | The capital funding announced includes £40m for the next stage of dualling the A465 Heads of the Valleys road between Brynmawr and Tredegar. |
| Morriston Hospital in Swansea will get £18m for redevelopment. | Morriston Hospital in Swansea will get £18m for redevelopment. |
| Ms Hutt attacked the UK government for cutting funding to Wales. The Welsh government's budget will be £2.1bn lower in real terms by 2014/15 than it was at its peak in 2009/10. | Ms Hutt attacked the UK government for cutting funding to Wales. The Welsh government's budget will be £2.1bn lower in real terms by 2014/15 than it was at its peak in 2009/10. |
| The Welsh government does not have the power to borrow money or raise taxes, so must rely on an annual grant from the Treasury. | The Welsh government does not have the power to borrow money or raise taxes, so must rely on an annual grant from the Treasury. |
| The budget was delivered "against the context of the most challenging economic and financial situation that we have found ourselves in since devolution", Ms Hutt said. | The budget was delivered "against the context of the most challenging economic and financial situation that we have found ourselves in since devolution", Ms Hutt said. |
| 'Groundhog Day' | 'Groundhog Day' |
| Welsh Conservative finance spokesman Paul Davies said: "It's Groundhog Day for our National Health Service. Snubbed again and still facing the toughest funding settlement in the UK. | Welsh Conservative finance spokesman Paul Davies said: "It's Groundhog Day for our National Health Service. Snubbed again and still facing the toughest funding settlement in the UK. |
| "Hospital downgrades and closures threaten communities the length and breadth of Wales as a result of Labour's record-breaking cuts." | "Hospital downgrades and closures threaten communities the length and breadth of Wales as a result of Labour's record-breaking cuts." |
| Ms Hutt added that Welsh Labour was "steadfast" in a commitment to universal benefits, such as free prescriptions and free breakfasts at primary schools. | Ms Hutt added that Welsh Labour was "steadfast" in a commitment to universal benefits, such as free prescriptions and free breakfasts at primary schools. |
| Critics have attacked them because they benefit rich and poor recipients alike. | Critics have attacked them because they benefit rich and poor recipients alike. |
| With 30 of the assembly's 60 seats, Labour will need help from opposition benches to get its budget through the assembly. | With 30 of the assembly's 60 seats, Labour will need help from opposition benches to get its budget through the assembly. |
| Last year's budget was passed after a deal with the Lib Dems over extra funding for the least well-off pupils. | Last year's budget was passed after a deal with the Lib Dems over extra funding for the least well-off pupils. |
| The latest spending plans maintains the funding which provides schools with an additional £450 for every child who receives free school dinners. | The latest spending plans maintains the funding which provides schools with an additional £450 for every child who receives free school dinners. |
| But Welsh Lib Dem leader Kirsty Williams said her party could not support it in its current form. | But Welsh Lib Dem leader Kirsty Williams said her party could not support it in its current form. |
| "In short, the budget should go further to ensure that children's achievement at school should reflect their ability not their background," she said. | "In short, the budget should go further to ensure that children's achievement at school should reflect their ability not their background," she said. |