(Title Image: i Newspaper)
The Welsh Government is expected to receive an additional £550million for 2019-20 and 2020-21 as part of announcements in the UK Budget on October 29th.
The UK budget will also see £120million committed towards a North Wales Growth Deal – a figure local business leaders said wasn’t enough and requires additional match-funding from the Welsh Government and local authorities.
One of the more contentious announcements was an extension, by £300million, in borrowing powers, but seemingly only available to the Welsh Government if they approve the M4 Newport bypass later this year.
There was also no announcement of the devolution of Air Passenger Duty (APD) – a power the Welsh Government have long asked for. APD is still set to be devolved to Northern Ireland.
The Finance Secretary, Mark Drakeford (Lab, Cardiff West) said it was for AMs to decide on the project and Plaid Cymru said it was an attempt to dictate devolved policy by Westminister.
However, it was later revealed by ITV Wales that the Finance Secretary wrote to the UK Treasury explicitly requesting additional borrowing powers in relation to the bypass.
