£350m extra funds for Welsh Government
THE UK Government has committed a further £350m to support the Welsh Government in tackling coronavirus, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced yesterday.
As a result of a boost to the coronavirus emergency response fund, the devolved administration will receive the funds on top of the £250m allocated from the £5bn fund to help it deliver urgent priorities across public services.
Mr Sunak said: “Our public services and its incredible staff are bravely working with immense resolve and skill to keep us safe. We depend on them, which is why we’re giving them the extra funds, tools and resources they need to tackle the virus.
“From the start, I’ve been clear our vital public services will get whatever they need to protect this country and its people from coronavirus. We are delivering on our pledge.”
Secretary of State for Wales Simon Hart said: “We are supporting the devolved administration in Wales to meet the exceptional challenges it currently faces, now providing £600m from this fund to help tackle coronavirus.
“This is on top of funding to help support individuals and businesses and will provide our incredible front-line staff with the resources they need to save lives. This means that Wales will receive a total cash boost of almost £2bn from the UK Government to help tackle Coronavirus in Wales.”
People in Wales also benefit from a range of measures that are supporting people across the UK.
“The UK military is providing both the Welsh Government and the NHS with additional specialist skills and expertise; businesses in Wales have access to £330bn worth of UK Government backed loans and the Job Retention Scheme and on Friday the Health Secretary announced the UK-wide PPE strategy.
In the Budget on March 11, the Chancellor set aside a £5bn fund as a rapid response to the pandemic. More than £14bn will now go towards public services including the NHS and local authorities.