Montgomeryshire Assembly Member Mick Bates has welcomed the news that animal health and welfare budgets are being devolved to the Welsh Assembly Government.
The powers for animal health and welfare have been devolved to Welsh Ministers since 2005 and therefore the transfer of these budgets aligns policy making ability with the ability to direct more spending on the priorities relevant to Wales.
The financial package is worth £21.02million in the first financial year (2011/12), and the budget will be devolved from April 2011. Over the 4 years of the Comprehensive Spending Review period, Wales’ share of the budget will amount to £77.71m, Scotland £76.98m and England £387.93m.
Commenting, Assembly Member Mick Bates stated:
“Devolving the animal health and welfare budgets to Wales is a welcome move. Over the four year period of the settlement Wales will receive around 14% of the total UK budget, which is higher than the Barnett consequential. This recognises that Wales has a comparatively higher concentration of livestock movement and will protect the ability of local authorities to enforce animal health legislation.”
