Press Release: NEATH AM BACKS AMBITIOUS BUDGET FOR WALES

SCHOOLS and hospitals in the Neath constituency will be among the first to benefit from the Welsh Assembly Government’s spending plans for the next three years.

Neath Labour AM Gwenda Thomas has welcomed the Assembly Government’s budget – announced by Welsh Labour Finance Minister Andrew Davies – which will see investment in Welsh public services increase by an extra £3.64 billion by 2011, taking Assembly Government spending to more than £16 billion by 2010-11. This is £2 billion more than this year, and more than double the £7 billion budget when the National Assembly was established in 1999.

This programme is built on our core objectives of improving the health of the people of Wales, increasing prosperity, tackling poverty, meeting housing need, improving public services, increasing employment and enhancing skills, and regenerating disadvantaged communities.
Local schools are set to benefit from their share of an extra £32 million to deliver better early years education and to cut class sizes.

Welsh Labour’s key budget commitments also include:

• Over £1.2bn extra for health services;
• An extra £77m for early years education;
• £25m for more and better modern apprenticeships;
• Extra help for pensioners with paying council tax;
• £120m for childcare;
• £93m for improved recycling services;
• £30m extra investment for affordable housing;
• £278m to help small businesses grow

Gwenda Thomas said:

‘’This budget delivers real value for the Welsh pound. Money is going where it is needed the most.

‘’I am also pleased to see that priority is being given to increasing the availability of affordable housing, help for small businesses, help for pensioners, better recycling services, more childcare places and modern apprenticeships.

"As the Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services, i'm also pleased that we are further investing in our health and social services, with the health and social care budget being £5.6bn for 2008-09, increasing to over £6bn by 2010-11.

‘’The extra £32m for early years education – on top of the £45m announced in November – proves our firm commitment to cutting class sizes for our youngest children. Welsh Labour believes that investing in our children at the earliest opportunity delivers the best education results for our schools and ensures a strong future for our communities.’’