Welsh Government taking a risk with new restrictions because Treasury money may be ‘fictional’ says Mark Drakeford
The Welsh Government is taking a risk in spending money on Covid restrictions because new support by the Treasury may be “fictional”, the First Minister has said.
The UK Treasury announced on Sunday that it would give the Welsh Government an additional £270 million to fight the new Omicron variant of the virus.
But it was revealed on Monday that Welsh Government may have to repay the money if the UK Government does not decide to spend similar amounts on restrictions in England.
Mark Drakeford said that while they did have the money for restrictions announced today, they did not have the “financial firepower” to go further and help anyone who might be out of work as a result of the restrictions.
“The UK Government says that they have given us extra £270m. I want to make clear not as simple as that,” he said.
“That money depends on how much is spent on similar services in England. We may get more and we may get less.
“We are proceeding at risk here. Our assessment is that we should step in, use some money, take the risk that the money announced by the UK Government is real rather than fictional to give businesses the confidence that they need.”
He added that he joined “colleagues in Scotland and Northern Ireland” in calling for the Treasury to put in place “protections” for sectors that would be impacted by Covid restrictions after Christmas.
‘Doubling’
The UK Treasury said on Monday that the Welsh Government would receive an additional £270 million, but if the amount given end up higher than the share of the money Wales would have received anyway, they will have it pay it back.
“If the amount of funding provided up front to each Devolved Administration is more than the Barnett consequentials confirmed at Supplementary Estimates then the difference will be repaid in 2022-23, or over the Spending Review period if necessary,” the Treasury said.
“If the Barnett consequentials are higher than the amount provided up front, the Devolved Administrations will keep the extra funding.”
The Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak however said that the money gave the devolved governments “the certainty they requested to spend additional funding now rather than waiting for Supplementary Estimates in the new year”.
“Following discussions with the Devolved Administrations, we are now doubling the additional funding available,” he said.
“We will continue to listen to and work with the Devolved Administrations in the face of this serious health crisis to ensure we’re getting the booster to people all over the UK and that people in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are supported.”
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This is our insurance of being latched onto Westminster is it Drakeford?
It’s time for a new wales 🏴 we in wales have got to stop being little Englanders and and be proud to be welsh kick all English party’s out of wales 🏴 start fighting for children and grandchildren future in wales 🏴 it’s time for a new wales 🏴
We
In Wales 🏴 pay more money in taxes to the English government than we get back from them it’s time for a new wales 🏴
While we may have to repay the money we are getting, no surprise there, Sunak cant even look after businesses in England, with industry calling his offer ” border on insulting”.We need Indy now.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2021/12/21/ftse-100-markets-live-news-pound-share-price-latest/&ved=2ahUKEwiniJzKzvf0AhVRXMAKHehlCf4QFnoECAcQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3T-IepBm-Pg6JCQ7Jxi8iy
Never take UK Gov offer of money as gospel unless you actually see it in your account. We’ve been here so many times as a nation and we have always come up short. It’s one of the reasons why we need to be become an independent nation.
Is this one shared book or are all schools in Wales going to get one each? After all, Welsh Labour has been the ruling party in Wales since the inception of devolution, who’ve controlled and shaped our education system. And yes, I’m being facetious. But any other nation on this planet whose citizen happened to view this article would be shocked that only now we are starting to teach our children their own Welsh history? Welsh history should not only be taught first. No child should leave school in Wales without being fluent in Cymraeg. And if other countries around… Read more »
A country run by an ex social worker and a Corbynite ,and a health minister who used to be a press officer with S4C (allegedly) ( No offence to either profession)…. welcome to one party Wales , with no parties.