4. Debate: The Final Budget 2023-24

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:48 pm on 7 March 2023.

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Photo of Jane Dodds Jane Dodds Liberal Democrat 3:48, 7 March 2023

Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. I was shouting, then, and I didn't need to, I realise.

I want to just talk about dentistry. Thank you so much for the work you've been doing. I'm really pleased that we are seeing an increase in dentist provision in rural areas. I know that we are looking at mobile dentistry, and we're looking at those dentists as well being in schools, secondary schools, so I'm really pleased that that is happening and I'm grateful, as well, for the additional funding for a dentist in Llandrindod Wells. We need to obviously protect our NHS dentistry and to grow it and to make sure that it's preserved. NHS dentistry should not just be for the poorest, but it should be for everybody, and in fact, we all know—. We've all got mailbags full of people who cannot access an NHS dentist.

We've heard about public transport and the concerns about removing the emergency funding scheme and the loss of services that this could imply. I want to see free public transport for all under 25-year-olds.

Housing: I am disappointed, along with Plaid Cymru, at the lack of an increase in the housing support grants. With costs having risen more than 10 per cent over the past year, this decision will inevitably mean a cut in services to support tenants.

I do agree with Plaid Cymru that there does need to be a debate and a discussion about how we get in more income to the Welsh Government, and actually looking at our Welsh rates of income tax. I know that will be for another year, but it is so important that we balance what we're spending with what we can get in through the front door as well.

I finish by saying that I'm really pleased that the Welsh Government has been prioritising social justice and equality issues. We've seen an increase in the discretionary assistance fund, and I'm really pleased to see that. I'm delighted that the universal basic income scheme for care-experienced young people continues—that is, that our care-experienced young people have the best possible start in life. And I'm really pleased to see other Welsh benefits also being rolled out.

But that is—and I go back to my earlier point—sadly, needed because we are looking at a complete outweighing of what we're getting from the Welsh Conservatives via their colleagues in Westminster. So, I will be supporting this budget. I hope that Wales can really move forward. Wales is an amazing country that has a really prosperous future, and I hope that we will continue to deliver. Thank you. Diolch yn fawr iawn.