Mark Drakeford, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language
The Welsh Government announced £157m of new funding to support the First Minister’s priorities this financial year. This funding has been made available as a result of consequentials received in the UK Government’s Autumn Budget.
A total of £57m for the Health and Social Care portfolio for ‘Iechyd da’ – A Healthier Wales including £21m for diagnostic equipment for the NHS to help cut waiting times and £19m for the 50-day challenge to improve hospital discharge and community care.
£95m to support opportunities for every family - boosting standards in schools and colleges and providing more homes for social rent, ensuring every family has the chance to succeed. This includes £20m for school and college repairs and maintenance.
£4m for green jobs and growth – creating green jobs that tackle the climate crisis and restore nature, while making families better off; including preparations to accelerate planning decisions to grow the Welsh economy.
£1m for arts and cultural organisations, provided through the Arts Council of Wales, which will support 60 organisations.
The funding can be used for either revenue or capital purposes.
Further details will be provided by portfolio Cabinet Secretaries in the coming weeks.
All additional funding will be regularised in the Welsh Government’s second supplementary budget to be published in February.