Budget breathing space is being squandered
THE first week of the new year meant getting down to business with arguably the most important part of my work as an Assembly – holding the Government to account over its budget for the forthcoming year.
This process should have begun in November, but the publication of draft budget was delayed because of the UK general election.
That’s disappointing given the importance of the budget process (although we did hold an additional meeting of the Finance committee during the Christmas recess, to get scrutiny work started), but what’s really unacceptable is the fact that this Welsh budget has had to be announced and debated before the UK Government announces its full spending plans for next year, including details of allocations for Wales.
That’s not on, and is another example of how Westminster doesn’t really work for Wales!
After 10 years of austerity – or cuts to give it its real name – this is the first budget in a while where there’s been room for manoeuvre. This is welcome, of course, but it is of real concern to me that the budget shows very little signs of thinking differently – using the breathing space to change cultures, to invest in preventative measures.
Speaking in the Assembly last week, I highlighted the environment and health as two areas where there’s a lack of preventative strategy and spending in the budget. Welsh Government (and the Assembly as an institution) declared a climate emergency last year. Surely that should now be followed by a serious stepping-up of action to tackle climate change.
And the NHS will keep on swallowing up more and more of the annual budget unless we invest in making us healthier as a nation.
Speaking of which, last week I raised a question in the Senedd about community 3G football resources on the island.
There is going to be investment in upgrading facilities in Menai Bridge and there is already a wonderful 3G facility in Llangefni, but evidence shows that there is demand in the communities of Holyhead and Amlwch – and those nearby – for such facilities, and I have been working with community groups in both areas to explore what options there are for these projects moving forward.
Welsh Government have committed to raising this matter with Sport Wales in response to my question, and I too have written to the Chief Executive Officer of Sport Wales, Sarah Powell, this week to keep pushing the matter forward.
Finally, I’ll take this opportunity in my first Mail column of 2020 to wish you a happy new year. Blwyddyn newydd dda bawb.