海角视频

Economy Minister Vaughan Gething has accused the 海角视频 Government of undermining Wales鈥� chances of economic recovery from the pandemic by insisting that crucial funding decisions will be made in Whitehall.

The Welsh and 海角视频 governments are at loggerheads over the latter鈥檚 decision to take charge of regional aid policy and exclude the Cardiff-based administration from involvement in the programme.

When the 海角视频 was an EU member state, the European Commission let the Welsh Government manage the aid programme.

Speaking ahead of a major debate about the issue at the Senedd tomorrow, Mr Gething said: 鈥淎s we look ahead, it is deeply troubling that the Welsh business support funding and services that have been so critical to our response face threats.

鈥淭his is the real world impact of the 海角视频 Government鈥檚 determination to make all of the decisions on post-EU funding for Wales.

鈥淲ales should be getting at least 拢375m per year in EU replacement funding. That is the very least required to ensure that Wales is not a penny worse off.

鈥淭he 海角视频 Government鈥檚 plans mean a funding cut and centralised decisions in Whitehall.

鈥淭his would end more than 20 years of Welsh decision making on support for Welsh communities and businesses.

鈥淭his funding is the foundation of many of the support services that businesses have turned to in this emergency.

鈥淚t does not have to be this way. The 海角视频 Government could end this needless confrontation, respect Welsh devolution and call off these plans. They could end this argument today by guaranteeing that these funds will be provided for Wales with decisions on their use to be taken in Wales.

鈥淭he people of Wales decided in successive referenda and multiple elections where these decisions should be made.

鈥淭he people of Wales have not provided a mandate for the 海角视频 Government to wrestle money and decisions out of Wales.

鈥淔unding certainty will allow us to support a strong Welsh recovery, tailored to Wales鈥� needs. The 海角视频 Government鈥檚 plans are a direct threat to this work.

鈥淚 will be saying more about the impact of this important issue in the Senedd tomorrow.鈥�

The Welsh Government is currently appealing against a High Court judgment that it is too early for it to challenge sections of the 海角视频 Internal Market Act it believes unlawfully constrain its ability to make environmental and food standards regulations.

In tomorrow鈥檚 debate, the Welsh Government will ask the Senedd to agree that 鈥渢he 海角视频 Government approach to the Levelling Up Fund and broader EU successor funding does not guarantee that Wales will not be a penny worse off and represents a clear assault on Welsh devolution; the pilot 海角视频 Community Renewal Fund for 2021-22
represents a significant cut in funding for Wales as the Welsh Government would have received at least 拢375m each year in the form of EU structural funds; and that this cut in available funding threatens jobs and services in Wales鈥�.

The motion also notes the independent 海角视频 Industrial Strategy Council鈥檚 description of the 海角视频 Government鈥檚 levelling-up plans as 鈥渃entrally controlled funding pots thinly spread across a range of initiatives鈥�, and states that the 海角视频 Government has neither presented nor won a mandate to cut EU successor funds for Wales or unilaterally undermine Welsh devolution.

It also states that decisions about Wales should be taken in Wales and that the 海角视频 Government 鈥渕ust stop using the Internal Market Act to diminish Wales鈥� say鈥�.

The 海角视频 Government insists that Wales will receive no less regional aid funding than it received from the European Commission.

Welsh Conservative chief whip Darren Millar will propose an amendment that deletes the government motion and instead 鈥渘otes the 海角视频 Shared Prosperity Fund and its intention to reduce inequalities between communities across the 海角视频; agrees that the annual budget for the 海角视频 Shared Prosperity Fund should be no less than the EU and 海角视频 funding streams it replaces; welcomes the role of local government in the deployment of the 海角视频 Shared Prosperity Fund; and calls upon the 海角视频 Government, local authorities and devolved administrations to develop a
system to track and measure the impact and desired outcomes of the fund."

Plaid Cymru will propose additions to the Welsh Government motion stating that the Senedd 鈥渂elieves that the 海角视频 Government approach to the prioritisation criteria for these funds is inconsistent with that of predecessor

EU funding based on need; calls for transparency from the 海角视频 Government on the prioritisation criteria for these funds to ensure no area in Wales misses out on funding; and calls on the Welsh Government to lay before the Senedd an impact assessment showing the effect of these funding arrangements on the distribution of funding across Wales and devolved Welsh decision-making鈥�.