Thanks to the UK Government pledging an extra £1.6 billion for local councils in England to fight Covid19, the Welsh Government will receive an additional £95 million to spend on public services in Wales.
In the battle against Covid19 the UK Government has now made more than £2.1 billion available to the Welsh Government – however, it is up to the Welsh Government has this money is spent. This is on top of the additional £1.5 billion the Welsh Government was due to receive from the UK Government after spending increases in England on public services like schools and education.
Commenting on the new funding, Mark Isherwood AM, Welsh Conservative Shadow Welsh Minister for Communities, Local Government and North Wales, said:
“Our local councils are on the frontline, not just in the battle against Covid19, but all year round delivering essential services to local residents.
“In the last few weeks brave council staff such as bin collectors, care workers, teachers, housing officers and so many more, as well as others in the independent sector such as our heroic car home staff, have been putting their lives at risk to enable key services to continue and that the most vulnerable people in our communities are looked after. I would like to thank them all for their tireless work.
“This additional £95 million will go a long way to support them and I hope the Welsh Government gives this money directly to councils for them to support key services in both the council and independent sectors in their collective fight against Covid19 at this dark hour.”
