Wales Economy News

The Resolution Foundation, an independent research and policy organisation, analysed the Chancellor's 2013 Budget:

• Personal tax allowances: Small gains for the great majority of tax payers excluding the very highest and lowest earners. However three-quarters of the £1 billion goes to households in the top half.
• Fuel duty: The freeze on fuel duty will disproportionately benefit lower and modest income families.

• Childcare: Welcome increase in generosity of childcare support through Universal Credit but only a minority of working low-income families with children will benefit.
• Housing: Focus on new supply to be welcomed but focus on home ownership is unlikely to benefit those on low and modest incomes.

• Wages: OBR forecasts show wages have dipped further than previously realised. For the median worker, the downturn has become even more severe.

• Politics
• Budget
• Economy

The Wales Office has released further details of the changes to the capital and revenue budgets that the Welsh Government will have to spend in 2013/14 and the projected figures for 2014/15, which are subject to further change in next year's Budget.

Capital spending will rise by £161 million.

• 2013/14: £63 million increase
• 2014/15: £98 million increase

The figure released earlier, of an extra £104 million over two years, includes revenue spending, which accounts for the vast majority of the Welsh Government's budget. It will be cut by £59 million.

• 2013/14: £27 million decrease
• 2014/15: £32 million decrease

The Wales Office points out that this is a 0.2% cut, compared to a 1% cut for most UK government departments. The Welsh Government argues that cuts announced by the Chancellor last autumn also have to be taken into account, leading to a bigger total drop in revenue spending.

• 2013/14: £32 million decrease
• 2014/15: £81 million decrease

• Politics
• Budget
• Economy

The Welsh Conservatives have called on the Welsh Government to make effective use of an extra £161 million in capital spending over the next two years.

As a result of these spending decisions the Welsh Government will benefit from an additional 161 million pounds of capital spending power – bringing the total to 858 million over the spending review period. Detailed discussions are now required on how to put this new money to best use.

This is a Budget targeted at growth that helps and supports communities across Wales. From fuel duty to income tax, from childcare to capital spending; this is extremely welcome news that provides a stark contrast to Welsh Labour’s tired policies and casino economics.The UK Government’s mortgage announcement will help those working hard to get on the property ladder, while its national insurance plans are a welcome difference to Labour’s flawed plans to tax jobs.

Meanwhile Plaid Cymru’s Treasury spokesperson, Jonathan Edwards MP, has reacted to the Chancellor’s Budget by saying it will bring little benefit to the Welsh economy and is a clear indication that Treasury policies are failing Wales.

It is disappointing that the Chancellor failed to adopt policies advocated by Plaid Cymru such as reversing the tax cut for those earning over £3,000 a week and scrapping the Trident renewal that is set to cost £100 billion. He also failed to make progress on introducing a Financial Transaction (Robin Hood) Tax that would raise £20 billion a year and help curb the speculative behaviour in the financial sector which caused the crash in the first place. The decision to scrap the stamp duty on shares trading is a regressive move as it’s the only thing in the UK currently resembling this tax.

Mr Edwards welcomed the news on childcare support though it won't help those on tax or universal credit. He said that left those on the lowest incomes facing the greatest barriers to meaningful work. He also welcomed the scrapping of the rise in fuel costs and the £10,000 income tax threshold.

• Politics
• Plaid Cymru
• Welsh Conservatives

Robert Lloyd Griffiths from the Institute of Directors in Wales has welcomed the Chancellor's Budget announcement.

He said "the reduction of corporation tax to 20 percent will be really welcomed across businesses."

• Politics
• Budget
• Economy

The Welsh Finance Minister, Jane Hutt, has responded to the Budget. She says the extra £161 million for Welsh Government capital projects has come at a high price, with cuts in the main revenue budget in both 2013/14 and 2014/15.

This is a disappointing Budget for Wales. We have repeatedly called on the UK Government to boost infrastructure investment to stimulate the economy. In response they have reduced our revenue budget - these revenue cuts are on top of those in last year's Autumn Statement. In total we will now have to find savings of £32 m in 2013/14 and £81 m in 2014/15. The price for additional capital investment is high and will be paid for by cuts to our revenue for the next two years. This is a real blow and will place our crucial public services under further pressure.

The UK Government has given us back some capital allocations, which we welcome. However there are many strings attached - the capital can only be used for loans or equity investment and a proportion will have to be repaid. Although we are committed to boosting the housing sector in Wales, this falls far short of what we called for and urgently require. Despite the recent loss of triple A status, borrowing costs remain very low and we would like to see the UK Government take advantage of this to support capital projects.

We welcome the acknowledgement in the Budget of the need for funding improvements to the M4 in South Wales, the intergovernmental talks on this need to be concluded quickly - I look forward to reaching agreement on this major infrastructure project.

At a time when we are trying to support the Welsh economy and boost growth, this level of cuts is unacceptable. We want to see the Welsh economy returned to full strength, today’s Budget will not make that task easier ."

• Politics
• Budget
• Economy

Alex Bevan, from the Trades Union Congress in Wales, described the Budget as "disappointing but not surprising" and "another missed opportunity" to rescue "a lost decade."

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• Budget
• Economy

Welsh Finance Minister Jane Hutt says that although the Chancellor's budget gives the Welsh Government more money for capital projects, it takes away money for other spending. She says it will mean Welsh ministers will have to find further savings.

This is a disappointing Budget for Wales. We have repeatedly called on the UK Government to boost infrastructure investment to stimulate the economy. In response they have reduced our revenue budget - these revenue cuts are on top of those in last year's Autumn Statement. In total we will now have to find savings of £32 m in 2013/14 and £81 m in 2014/15.

The price for additional capital investment is high and will be paid for by cuts to our revenue for the next two years. This is a real blow and will place our crucial public services under further pressure.

• Politics
• Welsh Government
• Jane Hutt

Public sector workers will be hit by both the extension of the pay rise cap of 1 percent until 2015-16, and having to contribute more to fund defined benefit pensions, Louise Evans from financial advisors Grant Thornton told our lunchtime news programme.

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• Budget
• Economy

Welsh gov will get additional £104m capital spend over next 2 years-more housing please! http://t.co/Wc0akRp0m0 #budget #welshhousing

From @JulieNCIH on Twitter: ( 2:17 pm, Wed 20 Mar 2013)

Budget £161 million coming to Wales for capital projects. Will we see a Neonatal care centre in N Wales or will Welsh Govt keep it all South

From @ASandbachAM on Twitter: ( 2:31 pm, Wed 20 Mar 2013)

Wage freezes. More spending cuts. Already rising prices and a BOE plan to RAISE inflation. Disastrous for people in Wales #budget

From @ChadARickard on Twitter: ( 2:14 pm, Wed 20 Mar 2013)

• Politics
• Budget
• Economy

Plaid Cymru's Treasury spokesperson Jonathan Edwards has criticised the Chancellor's budget for failing 'to transfer key job-creating powers to Wales.' And he added

It is disappointing that the Chancellor failed to adopt a range of progressive policies advocated by Plaid Cymru such as reversing the tax cut for those earning over £3,000 a week due to be implemented in April and scrapping the Trident renewal that is set to cost £100bn over the lifetime of a new system.

He also failed to make progress on introducing a Financial Transaction (Robin Hood) Tax that would raise £20bn a year and help curb the speculative behaviour in the financial sector which caused the crash in the first place. The decision to scrap the stamp duty on shares trading is a regressive move as it’s the only thing in the UK currently resembling this tax.

• Politics
• Plaid Cymru
• Jonathan Edwards