The UK Government's Budget

Part of 2. Questions to the Minister for Finance and Trefnydd – in the Senedd at 3:12 pm on 11 March 2020.

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Photo of David Rees David Rees Labour 3:12, 11 March 2020

Thank you for that answer, Minister. I think it's important that after 10 years we've seen austerity hit our local councils very hard. The Welsh Government has made tremendous efforts to actually minimise the impact austerity from Westminster has had on local authorities, yet we've seen local government in England continually suffering as a consequence of the cuts over there. In this budget, it's not quite clear yet as to how much of a consequential we will have as a result of the budget and the increase, if any, to local councils in England, but can you give assurances that if any consequential comes as a rise of funding to authorities in England that that will be passported straight to local authorities, because they are facing difficult times? We understand that coronavirus is among many other issues. They'll also face challenges as a consequence of coronavirus, because of the services—social services and community services—they often provide. It is important, therefore, that we support them as much as possible. If consequentials come, they should get it.