Capital Investment in South Wales Central

Part of 1. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance – in the Senedd at 1:35 pm on 20 June 2018.

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Photo of Mark Drakeford Mark Drakeford Labour 1:35, 20 June 2018

I thank Jane Hutt, of course, for that. I'll take her question in the two parts that she asked it. Of course we wish to use Welsh Government budgets to continue to invest in the NHS in South Wales Central. That includes £37 million currently being provided as part of phase 2 developments to improve neonatal care at the university hospital here in Cardiff; £14 million at Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr, as part of the upgrading of facilities at that site; and £8 million to create a diagnostic hub at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital, which I think is one of the most exciting developments shaping the future of health services in the South Wales Central area. As to the claim that the uplift in the NHS, when we finally find out what that actually means for Wales, and any suggestion that this is part of some sort of Brexit dividend has fallen apart so rapidly in the Prime Minister's hands that she must be deeply sorry that she ever included that in her announcement. We know, on any of the surveys that we see, is that it is likely to have an adverse effect on the economy right across the United Kingdom, an adverse effect on tax receipts into the Treasury. And any idea—any idea—that necessary investment in the NHS is to be found in that way is simply to perpetuate a piece of nonsense that was used during the referendum campaign. And I agree with what Sarah Wollaston said—it is deeply disappointing to see something that is so plainly misleading being repeated again.