Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Finance and Local Government – in the Senedd at 1:43 pm on 15 September 2021.
Thank you for raising this important issue this afternoon. I think there's a great deal to be concerned about in terms of the UK Government's approach to the future funding of health and social care, not least because the measures will disproportionately impact and burden working-age people. Most pensioners, of course, will pay nothing. And this, of course, is contrary to the principle of inter-generational fairness, which is at the heart—or certainly part of the heart—of the work that the Holtham Commission undertook.
In terms of what funding might become available for Welsh Government in future, we understand that the Barnett consequential arising from the recent announcements might be in the region of around £600 million a year. But what we don't know is what the impact really is in terms of the larger picture, because, of course, the Barnett consequentials give and they also take away. So, we'll have to wait until 27 October before we're able to see the full envelope for Welsh Government funding for the next three years. And it's at that point that we'll really be able to understand the impact in terms of our overall funding levels and to take those choices about support for local government. But I've already said that, in our early discussions about the budget for next year, we will continue to prioritise health and continue to look to give local government the best possible settlement.