Welsh Liberal Democrats slam "poor budget for rural Wales"

5.33.00pm GMT Wed 13th Dec 2006

Welsh Liberal Democrat AM Kirsty Williams slammed Labour and Plaid Cymru for agreeing a "poor budget for rural Wales"

In the budget debate, Plaid Cymru abstained, allowing Labour's budget to pass - including cuts in schools budgets and a failure to address the growing funding gap for universities. Kirsty Williams highlighted the battle over payments to uplands farmers.

Kirsty Williams said: "We have argued consistently that cuts in the Tir Mynydd budget must be reversed and the level of funding restored to that set in 2005-2006. This is a vital payment for hill farmers in Wales and the cutting of Tir Mynydd will have a dire effect on the ability of family farms to survive.

"To some people that may not be important, but the investment in uplands Wales benefits all of Wales. Without it the scenery of the Welsh hills that Labour AMs come to my constituency to walk in will be lost.

"Farmers in my constituency will suffer and the economy of rural Wales will suffer and the services in those communities will suffer."

Notes:

Welsh Liberal Democrats opposed the Labour/Plaid budget.