The Minister for Finance (Jane Hutt AM) laid the second Supplementary Budget 2014-15 on 10 February 2015. This was accompanied by an explanatory note and tables showing the main expenditure group (MEG) allocations. This supplementary budget amends the first Supplementary Budget 2014-15, approved by the National Assembly in July 2014.
The main additional revenue allocations are in the Health portfolio. The additional £200 million announced in October for the NHS, along with £40 million to fund winter pressures in the NHS. The main additional capital allocations are: £14.9 million for the NHS announced in January; £10.8 million financial transaction funding for Housing through Social Housing Grant and Home Improvement Loans; and £5 million additional for Finance Wales Capital Growth Fund. These investments are funded by a mixture of allocations from reserves, reallocation of savings from other departments and transfers with UK Government Departments. The overall allocation of discretionary expenditure (‘Departmental Expenditure Limit’) between different Welsh Government departments in this Supplementary Budget 2014-15 is summarised below. Total DEL has increased by £298 million, or 1.9%, relative to the First Supplementary Budget 2014-15, approved by the Assembly in July 2014.
Article by Gareth Thomas and David Millett, National Assembly for Wales Research Service.
