Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Finance and Local Government – in the Senedd at 2:06 pm on 28 September 2022.
Diolch, Minister. Over the summer recess, I worked with the team at Canolfan Pentre to set up a top-up shop to support residents across Rhondda through the cost-of-living crisis. It's been heartwarming to hear that the support provided by the Welsh Government via local authorities is making a real difference to families when they visit the shop. We've heard stories in the media of children pretending to eat out of empty lunch boxes because they didn't want their friends to know there's no food at home. The new Tory Prime Minister, through the mini budget, believes the answer is to cut tax for millionaires, not to scrap bankers' bonuses, and to let energy companies keep their extortionate profits. The mini budget also does nothing for local authorities. They now have £200 million less to spend next year. It will be impossible to keep the same level of service without intervention. Will the Minister please continue to make representations to the UK Government, alongside the WLGA, for support for local authorities in Wales?