The spending includes an extra £175m for transport projects over the next two years and a £170m package of capital spending and financial initiatives to stimulate housing.
There will also be an extra £38m for healthcare improvements and £20m for vital flood and coastal improvements. A further £3.5m has been found for repairs to National Library of Wales.
Presenting the Welsh Government’s draft Budget for 2014-15 today finance minister Jane Hutt said the Welsh budget has faced an unprecedented £1.7bn cut by the UK Government since 2010.
“In this Budget we have been clear about our Priorities for Wales and those areas that we believe need protecting – health, schools and universal benefits. We have also been clear that our focus will continue to rest on creating Growth and Jobs for the Welsh economy.
Extra spending programme
Transport:
- £62m for phase one of a new scheme to create a South East Wales metro system through better bus and rail links. This is in addition to the £11.5m three-year package agreed earlier this year for the Ebbw Vale railway station and extension which is part of the wider scheme.
- £40m to speed up A465 Heads Of The Valley Dualling – Section 2 – between
Gilwern and Brynmawr - £40m for improvements to the M4 Brynglas Tunnels
- £17m for improvements to two A55 tunnels in north Wales.
Housing: £170m will be invested in housing, including £140m between 2014/15 and 2015/16 for Help to Buy Cymru – a new shared equity scheme for Wales to help people, especially first-time buyers, purchase new-build homes.
Healthcare:
- £20m for development of an Adult Mental Health Unit at University Hospital Llandough
- Extra £10m for Ysbyty Glan Clwyd Redevelopment
- Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales – extra £5m to enable completion of the final phase of project
- Extra £3m to help replace old buildings at Morriston Hospital in Swansea
Environment: £20m for “vital” flood and coastal defences to protect 2,000 homes.
Enterprise zones: £55m to support economic development
Energy efficiency: £70m for energy improvements to Welsh homes focusing on those in fuel poverty.
