Following the UK Government’s announcement of the Spending Review, the Welsh Assembly Government can now finalise its own draft budget which will be published in mid November, with the final budget presented to the National Assembly for Wales in early February 2011.
A Welsh Assembly Government response to the announcement will follow shortly.
Each year, Wales receives a budget allocation from the UK Government. The Welsh Assembly Government develops plans on how to spend the budget. These plans are presented in the draft Budget which is laid before the National Assembly, scrutinised by Committees and debated in Plenary, before being formally approved by the Assembly.
The Welsh Assembly Government’s budget funds some of our most vital public services, including hospitals, universities and colleges, roads, fire and ambulance services, and the large number of services, such as schools and social services, that are provided by councils. The budget is allocated according to Welsh Assembly Government strategic priorities.
The budget planning process began earlier this year but the timeline below outlines some of the main dates in the budget planning process between now and February.
20th October
The UK Government announces its Spending Review .
21st October
The Welsh Assembly Government Cabinet will meet to discuss the outcome of the Spending Review.
17th November
The Welsh Assembly Government publishes its draft budget. The draft budget sets out how available resources will be distributed between Ministerial portfolios and spending programme areas.
November – January
Assembly scrutiny of the Welsh Assembly Government’s draft Budget.
18th January 2011
The National Assembly for Wales will debate the Draft Budget.
1st February 2011
Final Budget laid before the National Assembly for Wales.
8th February 2011
The National Assembly for Wales will debate the Final Budget.
