Finance Minister reveals budget which aims to protect public services and livelihoods

This investment includes an additional £147m to ramp up housing programmes and an extra £30m to accelerate the ambitious 21st Century Schools and Colleges Programme, helping to support economic growth, sustainable jobs and training opportunities across the sector. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The new  package also boosts the significant investment dedicated to flood and coastal defence in this Senedd term. An extra £8m will be invested to help local authorities and Natural Resources Wales repair the damage caused by flood events in December and January and protect communities at risk of flooding. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

In recognition of the benefits active travel delivers to employment, education, key services, and bringing our communities together, we’re allocating an additional £20m to further extend infrastructure and enable the delivery of new schemes. This takes our total planned 2021-22 investment for active travel to around £75m. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

As set out by the First Minister yesterday the Final Budget also confirms more than £630m to support our NHS and local government over the next six months as they continue to respond to the pandemic. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The Final Budget also sets aside £200m in reserves for additional business support next year to respond to the evolving challenges of the pandemic. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Finance Minister Rebecca Evans said: ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“The Budget I have published today provides our economy with an investment  to help inject jobs and demand into a recovery that takes root today. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“It also provides the NHS and local government with the certainty they need to respond to the next phase of the pandemic. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“We know that our hardest hit businesses need certainty too. That’s why we repurposed budgets to provide more funding for business support in Wales than we received as a share of the package in England. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“We will provide further clarity when our funding position is absolutely guaranteed. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“When the Chancellor confirms the funding Wales will get as its share of the English position on rates relief for next year, I will announce the next steps for Wales. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Today’s measures build on a budget designed to protect public services and our economy, build a greener future and create change for a more equal Wales.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The Welsh Government’s final Budget 2021-22 will be published here along with associated documents.