Core responsibilities are front of the queue

IN CURRENT circumstances, it’s inevitable that the focus of the draft Welsh Budget will be on increasing funding to the NHS.

Treating patients with Covid-19 has to be a priority and it’s vital that the health service is not overwhelmed.

That’s the main reason why as many people as possible are being encouraged to get vaccinated.

But there are many non-Covid patients who need to be treated too.

It’s extremely unfortunate that at least one health board has cancelled non-urgent operations.

This isn’t the first winter when this has happened, but the extra pressures associated with Covid have made the situation significantly worse.

Finance Minister Rebecca Evans has pointed out that despite the large-sounding cash increase to the Welsh Government’s grant from the Treasury, Wales’ funding remains demonstrably worse off in real terms than when the Conservatives took power at Westminster in 2010.

Those expecting major improvements in service provision need also to take on board the fact that a high proportion of the extra money for the NHS will be taken up by pay increases for the workforce.

Another part of yesterday’s draft Budget that deserves to be welcomed is the decision to halve business rates for outlets in the retail and hospitality industries.

Outlets in those sectors have had a torrid time for nearly two years, with businesses closing because measures like the furlough scheme were insufficient to save them from insolvency.

It’s desperately sad that some businesses into which their owners had sunk their life savings have been forced to shut, depriving those involved of their livelihoods.

We hope that the reduction in business rates, coupled with a rates freeze for 2022-23, will enable the great majority of retail and hospitality outlets to survive.

With uncertainty surrounding the spread of the Omicron variant, both the UK and Welsh governments need to be alert to the fact further cash help to businesses may be necessary.

Most people will understand why core Welsh Government responsibilities like the NHS and business support are at the front of the queue for funding.

With that in mind, it’s probably too early to rush to judgement on the much heralded Co-operation Agreement between Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru.

That time will come.