3. Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance: The Draft Budget 2019-20

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:56 pm on 2 October 2018.

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Photo of Julie Morgan Julie Morgan Labour 3:56, 2 October 2018

I welcome the draft budget and congratulate the Cabinet Secretary on producing this budget in the ninth year of austerity, because I think we all know how families, particularly families with children, have struggled these last few years. So, I particularly welcome the help for children and families that many Members have referred to today—school meals and school uniforms. It is so difficult for families to cope with the demands and this is real practical help, and I do appreciate the fact that the Cabinet Secretary has made these improvements. Again, along with the others, I welcome the fact that all care leavers will now not pay the council tax until they are 25 years old, and I congratulate those local authorities who have used their discretionary powers to bring this in earlier, because I think this does show foresight and shows care for children who have been under the care of the state. Cardiff Council, my local authority, is one of those that has used the discretionary powers to do this.

I wanted to mention a few other points that I particularly welcome. I welcome the restoring of the funding for the national parks, because I think the national parks are so important for us here in Wales, and I think we all know that health is so linked with being able to enjoy the environment. A visit to a national park is maybe as good as a visit to a doctor, and I'm sure Mike Hedges would approve of that. [Laughter.]  

I also wanted to mention—it's a small amount of money, but I think it's very important—the improvements to Llangrannog and Glan-llyn. One of my grandchildren is actually at one of those establishments now as we speak, and I know how many children have such a huge benefit from them. I think it's an absolutely fantastic experience for children to go there, so I welcome the fact that they are going to have these opportunities.

I wanted, finally, to ask the Cabinet Secretary about how the Welsh mutual investment model is going, which I believe was actually created by my colleague Jane Hutt, when she was the finance Minister, to fund the building of the new Velindre? I know the Cabinet Secretary will be aware that there's now planning permission for the new Velindre in the Top Meadows in Whitchurch, with access through Asda, and the negotiations are ongoing, but we will end up with a brand-new cancer hospital linked with much more treatment for cancer patients in the community, and I think we are all very pleased and proud that this is going to happen. So, could he say how the Welsh mutual investment model is being developed?