9. Debate: The Second Supplementary Budget 2019-20

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:45 pm on 3 March 2020.

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Photo of Rebecca Evans Rebecca Evans Labour 5:45, 3 March 2020

This budget provides a final opportunity to amend plans for the current financial year, allowing the revision of the previously approved financing and expenditure plans, reprioritisations within portfolios, budget transfers between portfolios, and allocations from reserves. It aligns resources with the Government's priorities. The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 continues to provide the foundation that guides our budget process. This budget makes allocations from our fiscal resource reserves to support the management of winter pressures in our health service, the pay award for teachers and the childcare offer, which is a primary driver for change for the childcare sector. The capital allocations, both general and financial transactions, that we've made provide further investments in housing, education and the transport system.

I ask Members to support the amendment to this motion, which corrects the level of income that the Wales Audit Office may retain. Due to an administrative oversight, this amount was overstated by £50,000 in the budget motion. This amendment ensures that the level of income matches that within the Wales Audit Office's explanatory memorandum, considered by the Finance Committee.

I would like to thank the Finance Committee for their scrutiny of this second supplementary budget, and I am minded to accept all of its five recommendations for the Welsh Government, which I will respond to in detail in due course. I ask Members to support the amendment and the motion.