5. Debate: The Draft Budget 2018-19

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:51 pm on 5 December 2017.

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Photo of Hefin David Hefin David Labour 4:51, 5 December 2017

Well, that's not a responsible representation of what I said, and what I said is: we are operating within a UK Government budget context in which it has cut back mercilessly, and those merciless cuts have fed back to the Welsh Government. I think that Nick Ramsay knows very well that's exactly what I just said.

I will be supporting this budget this afternoon, because I have every confidence in the Cabinet Secretary. The budget that he has put together under these circumstances is true to Welsh Labour values and reflects the programme for government and does all it can to reduce the impacts of the UK Government strategy. This budget agreement with Plaid Cymru ensures financial stability for Wales over the next two years, something that is much needed, given the ongoing austerity, and it's for these reasons I'll be voting in favour of the budget today.