The Welsh Government has today gained new powers to issue bonds to help fund infrastructure investment.
This was published under the 2016 to 2021 administration of the Welsh Government
The new powers, part of the 2015 St David’s Day Agreement, enable the Welsh Government to issue redeemable bonds to fund projects such as schools, hospitals, roads and public transport.
They increase the range of borrowing options available to the Welsh Government.
Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford said:
“At a time when our capital budgets are continuing to fall, these additional powers provide us with the full suite of borrowing levers so we can continue to invest in our ambitious infrastructure plans for the whole of Wales.
“We will always use least expensive forms of capital first when investing in infrastructure before using other sources of repayable capital, such as bonds.”
The bonds – in common with other forms of borrowing – must be repaid with interest and will have an impact on the revenue available to the Welsh Government to fund day-to-day public services.