5. Debate: The Draft Budget 2018-19

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:09 pm on 5 December 2017.

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Photo of Mr Neil Hamilton Mr Neil Hamilton UKIP 4:09, 5 December 2017

I welcome the Labour-Plaid Cymru budget, and Steffan Lewis gave a list of the changes that he says are due to the influence of Plaid Cymru. The DUP in Northern Ireland has got an extra £1 billion for Northern Ireland out of their support for the Government at Westminster, and Plaid Cymru has managed to redirect £500 million out of the £15 billion that the Labour Government here has to spend. I've got no objection to any of the changes that have been made, because that's what coalition-type arrangements are about, and nobody, therefore, can complain about the way in which the DUP has used its position at Westminster, because it's happening here in Cardiff in the same way. What would be quite interesting to know, of course, is what the Government would have spent the £500 million on if they hadn't been in hock to Plaid Cymru. Then we would be able to have a proper debate on priorities, which is what the Finance Committee recommended.