Budget deal is 'great result for Wales'

12.00.00am GMT Tue 29th Nov 2005

Welsh Liberal Democrats today hailed the budget deal as 'a great result for Wales', putting greater emphasis on education and helping those hit hardest by unfair council tax.

Mike German AM, the leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats in the National Assembly, said:

""This budget puts Welsh Liberal Democrat priorities at the heart of government spending once again. We have always placed a high priority on education and the concessions we have secured on the small schools fund and closing the funding gap in Higher Education are an outstanding addition to our proud record. The 'Jamie Oliver' money to improve school meals and will pay dividends in making our children healthier and fitter.

"While Welsh Liberal Democrats remain committed to scrapping the council tax, I am pleased that we have been able to help those who have been hardest hit by revaluation - Wales' pensioners. Too many of our oldest people in Wales are suffering as a direct result of revaluation. This budget will help them."

Finance Spokesperson Jenny Randerson added: "When the draft budget was initially published we highlighted the high level of reserves and administration spending. By trimming in these areas, we have been able to secure significant investment in education and easing the plight of our pensioners - without taking anything away from the health budget, or local councils.

"This is a common sense deal, agreed by all parties, which is a great result for Wales."

The new budget agreed late last night, and endorsed by the parties this morning provides:

Council tax - £100 for pensioner households in 2006/7 whose homes have risen by more than one council tax band due to revaluation.

A further £10m will be made available over two years for pensioners to provide home energy schemes to cut household bills and for improved security on their properties.

Higher education funding - an extra £5mn in the first year to help close the funding gap between Welsh and English universities, with a minimum of another £3m in year two.

Small schools - a £4.1m fund for small schools across Wales.

School nutrition - £3.1m to provide for more nutritious school dinners and healthier food in school vending machines.

School funding - schools to be allowed to retain efficiency savings.

Rail services - a commitment to pre-feasibility studies to improve services on routes throughout Wales, plus the purchase of additional rolling stock for the Aberystwyth-Cambrian coast-Shrewsbury and Heart of Wales lines.

Welsh Liberal Democrats today hailed the budget deal as 'a great result for Wales', putting greater emphasis on education and helping those hit hardest by unfair council tax.

Mike German AM, the leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats in the National Assembly, said:

""This budget puts Welsh Liberal Democrat priorities at the heart of government spending once again. We have always placed a high priority on education and the concessions we have secured on the small schools fund and closing the funding gap in Higher Education are an outstanding addition to our proud record. The 'Jamie Oliver' money to improve school meals and will pay dividends in making our children healthier and fitter.

"While Welsh Liberal Democrats remain committed to scrapping the council tax, I am pleased that we have been able to help those who have been hardest hit by revaluation - Wales' pensioners. Too many of our oldest people in Wales are suffering as a direct result of revaluation. This budget will help them."

Finance Spokesperson Jenny Randerson added: "When the draft budget was initially published we highlighted the high level of reserves and administration spending. By trimming in these areas, we have been able to secure significant investment in education and easing the plight of our pensioners - without taking anything away from the health budget, or local councils.

"This is a common sense deal, agreed by all parties, which is a great result for Wales."

The new budget agreed late last night, and endorsed by the parties this morning provides:

Council tax - £100 for pensioner households in 2006/7 whose homes have risen by more than one council tax band due to revaluation.

A further £10m will be made available over two years for pensioners to provide home energy schemes to cut household bills and for improved security on their properties.

Higher education funding - an extra £5mn in the first year to help close the funding gap between Welsh and English universities, with a minimum of another £3m in year two.

Small schools - a £4.1m fund for small schools across Wales.

School nutrition - £3.1m to provide for more nutritious school dinners and healthier food in school vending machines.

School funding - schools to be allowed to retain efficiency savings.

Rail services - a commitment to pre-feasibility studies to improve services on routes throughout Wales, plus the purchase of additional rolling stock for the Aberystwyth-Cambrian coast-Shrewsbury and Heart of Wales lines.