Questions Without Notice from Party Spokespeople

Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Finance and Local Government – in the Senedd at 1:45 pm on 23 June 2021.

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Photo of Peter Fox Peter Fox Conservative 1:45, 23 June 2021

I really do welcome that; thank you, Minister. Many of our businesses are still here today, despite that massive damage inflicted by COVID. Of course, I think that is because of the £6 billion in support to Wales from the UK Government. Without that support, I think we all dread to think of the jobs and businesses that would not have been here now and would have been lost.

Now I know that the Welsh Government has claimed to have provided more funding for businesses than actually has been handed over by the UK. We heard Mrs Watson yesterday mention it in this Chamber, reaffirmed by the First Minister. If that is the case, then, without delay, the people of Wales must be given the full picture. Where has this money originated—the additional £400 million? Was it repurposed and how much of this may have been repurposed? How has that left other services, which that money had been repurposed from? How are they going to manage going forward? There are obviously some questions and some clarity needed around that.

But one thing is for certain: it's crucial that hard-hit families, as well as vitally important small and medium-sized businesses, do not foot the bill for the extra spending commitment. So, whilst I welcome that extra money being spent, there is always an opportunity lost in the cost to doing that. What we need is clear understanding. We certainly don't want those burdens, those additional costs, to fall onto families and businesses. So, will you today, Minister, answer these important concerns and will you also rule out any tax rises in the near future that would hamper Wales's financial recovery? Thank you.