Responding to today’s debate on the Labour administration’s Draft Budget, Welsh Conservative shadow finance minister, Peter Fox MS said:
“The COVID-19 pandemic has affected us all – restrictions have curtailed our freedoms, vast swathes of our society have been forced to shut, and public services have come under huge pressure. Our front-line services, as well as our communities, still face significant challenges as we move through the next phase of the pandemic.
“I believe there are things that we can welcome in this Budget and the additional funding provided by the Conservative UK Government once again highlights the importance of being part of a strong Union.
“The Chancellor has delivered record funding to Wales – an extra £2.5 billion per year on average on top of its annual funding of £15.9 billion – and it’s vital this is used to deliver on the priorities of working people across the country.
“As I said when the budget was initially published, Welsh Conservatives are disappointed to see no funding stream has been made available to deliver regional surgical and diagnostic hubs to tackle our huge NHS waiting lists, whilst the failure to earmark significant funding for our crumbling road infrastructure will continue to hold back our economy.
“Nevertheless, due to the record funding received in Cardiff Bay, Labour’s playbook of excuses has well and truly run out and they will be judged on the delivery and results of this budget.
“They have more than enough tools at their disposal, and we really need to see this Budget deliver on what it is setting out to achieve – ‘a stronger, fairer, and greener Wales’ – which is something previous Labour administrations have failed to live up to.
“After two decades of mediocrity, Labour ministers must deliver real change for the people of Wales, and build a more prosperous, aspirational nation.”
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