Assembly Committee highlights concerns over Welsh Government’s Second Supplementary Budget 2014-15

Published 05/03/2015   |   Last Updated 05/03/2015

The National Assembly for Wales' Finance Committee has outlined a number of conclusions and recommendations following scrutiny of the second Supplementary Budget 2014-15.  

In consideration of the supplementary budget, the Committee took oral evidence from Jane Hutt AM, Minister for Finance and Government Business. The Committee also considered the Supplementary Budgets of the Assembly Commission and the Wales Audit Office.

The main additional revenue allocations in the supplementary budget are for an additional £200 million for the Welsh NHS announced in October, and a further £40 million to fund winter pressures in the NHS. The main additional capital allocation is the £14.9 million for the NHS announced in January.

In the Autumn consideration of the budget 2015-16, the Committee was concerned about the funding being allocated to health at the expense of local government. These concerns remain.

Jocelyn Davies AM, Chair of the Committee said:

"As a Committee, we recognise that the setting of priorities is a matter for the Government. However, we have concerns that additional funding is being provided to health, seemingly on the evidence of one report, and without firm targets being set on how the NHS will improve and become financially sustainable."

Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Second Supplementary Budget for 2014-15 (PDF, 413KB)