Committee challenges Welsh Government over Budget figures

I’ve been incredibly busy and i’ve not had a chance to be as immersed in all matters Welsh politics as usual, but it seems in my absence nothing really changes.

Labour are doing just enough to remain visible, but not enough to make any difference with things like the Budget Deal, Remembrance celebrations and a few quotes on the North Wales Child Abuse scandal.

Plaid Cymru still grabbing the headlines with eye-catching ideas that won’t amount to very much (Leanne throwing her lot in for a constituency seat)

And the Lib Dems and Tories still opposing everything the Welsh Government is doing while trying to half heartdly defend what’s going on in Westminster.

So it's good to know other are on the ball as the Finance Committee has been busy taking evidence and has uncovered serious  concerns the Welsh Government's Budget's affordability. 

They statement from the Committee says ‘Members of the Finance Committee remain unconvinced that the Welsh Government's proposed expenditure for the next financial year will be adequate to fulfil its planned programme.

In particular, the Committee believes that Wales’s Local Health Boards will not come in on budget this year and therefore money will have to be drawn from other areas in the Welsh Government’s plans.

The evidence to the Committee highlighted an apparent lack of preparation to establish which elements of the budget will take priority should further funding for Local Health Boards be required.

Concerns are also raised about the discrepancy between the Welsh Government’s provision for the costs to local authorities of implementing proposed new legislation and the local authorities’ own estimates.

"The Committee is not convinced this draft budget can cover everything that the Welsh Government wants to achieve in the next financial year," said Jocelyn Davies AM, Chair of the Finance Committee.

"Of particular concern is the evidence which suggests that Wales’s Local Health Boards will not come in on target this year and we believe further consideration should be given to what areas and departments will be squeezed if and when budgets get tight.

"We also wish to see greater clarification on the scale of costs for implementing future legislation for local authorities as currently there appears to be a large discrepancy between Welsh Government and local authority estimates."

So will the First Minister and Plaid Cymru leader listen to the queries?

Any source