Labour Forced to Reassess Needs of Ambulance Service

3.35.07pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 25th Oct 2006

Welsh Liberal Democrat AM for Cardiff Central Jenny Randerson has welcomed the Government's defeat in the budget debate at the Assembly yesterday, saying she hoped it would mean "more money for the ambulance service". Following their defeat, the Labour Government must now begin negotiating with opposition parties to create a compromise budget.

Jenny said "I am concerned that the ambulance service says that it needs £20 million, but that it was only to be given £16 million over two years. That is clearly inadequate.

"Hopefully now Labour will listen. If what has happened over the last few months is what they call consultation, I am willing to buy them a dictionary. I remember last year's budget hoopla, why don't they?"

Notes:

The Government's budget was defeated at the Assembly yesterday. A cross-party amendment, which was passed, read:

"The National Assembly for Wales declines to take note of the draft budget for the Welsh Assembly Government for the financial years 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 laid in the Table Office on 17 October 2006 by the Minister for Finance, Local Government and Public Services, as it fails to make either adequate provision, or any at all, for the following matters:

a) a sum equivalent to the 1% efficiency savings of all schools' delegated budgets which should be returned to the schools

b) the budget of Tir Mynydd to be restored to the level set in 2005-6

c) closing the higher education funding gap

d) an increase in the budget allocated for transport grants

e) an increase in the budget allocated to the Ambulance Service

f) an increase in the allowances paid to foster carers

g) financial assistance to community radio stations

h) financial assistance to local authorities to overcome the difficulties they face over:

i. landfill sites

ii. the capital costs of improving care homes

i) transitional relief to local authorities on the withdrawal of rural rate relief

j) the employment of cognitive behaviour therapists

k) financial assistance to provide for play areas for disabled children

l) financial assistance to establish refuges for women who suffer domestic violence in those local authority areas where none currently exist

m) further financial support for the improvement of rail infrastructure

Accordingly the National Assembly for Wales instructs the Finance Minister to lay a revised draft budget to take full account of the matters set out in (a) to (m) above."

A full transcript of this, and all other, Assembly debates is available from the National Assembly for Wales website (www.wales.gov.uk)

Ends/diwedd

Related Link:

BBC Report.