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Welsh government's £15bn budget is approved | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The Welsh government's £15bn budget for next year has been approved at the Senedd. | |
The minority Labour government struck a deal worth around £100m with Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Liberal Democrats to get the budget passed. | The minority Labour government struck a deal worth around £100m with Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Liberal Democrats to get the budget passed. |
The Conservatives accused the other opposition parties of propping up a "failing Labour government". | The Conservatives accused the other opposition parties of propping up a "failing Labour government". |
Finance Minister Jane Hutt told AMs it was not possible to "shield" all services from UK government cuts. | Finance Minister Jane Hutt told AMs it was not possible to "shield" all services from UK government cuts. |
The NHS in Wales will receive an extra £570m over three years. | The NHS in Wales will receive an extra £570m over three years. |
But money for local government will fall by 5.81%. | But money for local government will fall by 5.81%. |
Ms Hutt said the priority was to protect health, schools and universal benefits, such as free prescriptions, school breakfasts and bus passes for pensioners. | Ms Hutt said the priority was to protect health, schools and universal benefits, such as free prescriptions, school breakfasts and bus passes for pensioners. |
"We have also been clear that our focus will continue to rest on creating growth and jobs for the Welsh economy," she said. | "We have also been clear that our focus will continue to rest on creating growth and jobs for the Welsh economy," she said. |
But in November, the assembly's finance committee questioned her statement, suggesting the plan was a budget for the NHS. | But in November, the assembly's finance committee questioned her statement, suggesting the plan was a budget for the NHS. |
School meals | School meals |
On Monday, Ms Hutt visited a primary school in Port Talbot and announced the 21st Century schools' programme, a £1.4bn programme to build 150 new schools, would finish two years early. | On Monday, Ms Hutt visited a primary school in Port Talbot and announced the 21st Century schools' programme, a £1.4bn programme to build 150 new schools, would finish two years early. |
Labour has 30 of the 60 seats in the assembly so did not have a majority in order to win the budget vote. | Labour has 30 of the 60 seats in the assembly so did not have a majority in order to win the budget vote. |
However the plans were certain to pass following a deal reached in October. | However the plans were certain to pass following a deal reached in October. |
Some £50m will be spent on a fund to treat more patients in the community rather than in hospitals - a key Plaid Cymru demand - while the Lib Dems secured £35m to increase the value of the pupil deprivation grant paid to schools which have pupils eligible for free school meals. | Some £50m will be spent on a fund to treat more patients in the community rather than in hospitals - a key Plaid Cymru demand - while the Lib Dems secured £35m to increase the value of the pupil deprivation grant paid to schools which have pupils eligible for free school meals. |
Earlier Plaid Cymru and the Liberal Democrats had defended the decision to sign a deal with Labour. | Earlier Plaid Cymru and the Liberal Democrats had defended the decision to sign a deal with Labour. |
Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood told journalists she was "confident we've made the right decision", and said it did not follow there would be a further deal to cover the following year's budget. | Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood told journalists she was "confident we've made the right decision", and said it did not follow there would be a further deal to cover the following year's budget. |