- 05/10/2017
- Posted by: Lesley Griffiths MS
- Category: News
The Labour-led Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru have agreed a multimillion pound two-year Budget agreement.
The deal, which has been welcomed by Wrexham’s Assembly Member Lesley Griffiths, is worth £210m and includes £40m to boost mental health funding and an extra £20m a year for higher and further education.
Funding has been protected for the Supporting People grant thanks to an additional £10m budget allocation.
The Supporting People grant is a £124.4m programme by the Welsh Labour Government that provides help and support to over 57,000 people each year to live independently. While the majority of those, some 40,000, are older people it also helps those fleeing domestic violence and those threatened with or getting over a period of homelessness as well as those with mental health or substance misuse issues or learning disabilities.
Up to £5m has been outlined from 2019 for a national art museum and North Wales football museum and a £7m development fund will support undergraduate medical training in North Wales. There is additional funding for the Welsh language, for Wales to deal with the impact of Brexit and support for businesses and for music in schools.
Wrexham Assembly Member, Lesley Griffiths said: “In spite of the unprecedented cuts by the Tory UK Government in pursuing their failed austerity agenda, the Welsh Labour Government and Plaid Cymru have worked together to help provide certainty and stability for the people of Wales.”
“The Welsh Government will continue to invest in our key public services. Providing extra funding for mental health services and safeguarding the Supporting People grant, which has been scrapped in England, will help protect vulnerable individuals across the country.”
“Locally, I am particularly pleased funding is in place for a feasibility study to be carried out into creating a football museum in North Wales. An agreement was struck last year and I have long-called for a museum to be located in Wrexham. Having corresponded with the Welsh Government, I hope relevant parties will work together to achieve this goal.”
