The Welsh Government has criticised Chancellor Rishi Sunak for giving the impression that £227m in funding for Wales following a £4bn lockdown support package for firms in England was additional new money.
The measures announced by the Chancellor include a one-off top up grants for retail, hospitality and leisure firms worth up to £9,000 per property to help businesses through to the spring.
As business support is devolved in a statement the Treasury said that Wales will receive £227m through a Barnett Formula consequential as a result of the funding for firms in England.
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The 海角视频 Government also said the Scottish Government will receive £375m and the Northern Ireland executive receive £127m.
However, the Welsh Government said it was anything but new money, but falls under a £1.2bn effective advance by the 海角视频 Government to help the Cardiff Bay administration plan ahead for impact of Covid announced back in the summer.
That funding for the current financial year to the end of March was announced by Chief Secretary to the Treasury Steve Barclays back in July.
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “The 海角视频 Treasury has confirmed that today's announcement does not include new money for Wales. This funding is already within our existing Covid funding guarantee. Greater transparency is urgently needed to prevent the confusion these 海角视频 announcements cause for people and businesses across Wales.
“The Welsh Government has provided funding to enable businesses in Wales to access the most generous support package anywhere in the 海角视频. Before Christmas, we announced a further £450m for hospitality and retail businesses affected by the latest restrictions. Funds are reaching businesses as quickly as possible and more will receive support over the coming days and weeks.
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"We will continue to do all we can to support Welsh businesses through these incredibly difficult times.”
Deputy Minister for the Economy and Transport, Lee Waters, said the Treasury had corrected an earlier version of the funding announcement which suggested it was new money for Wales, describing that as "pure Tory spin."
In response the Treasury said: "As the Chancellor has said this is additional funding being provided to the devolved administrations as part of the unprecedented upfront Barnett guarantee.
The total of the guarantee is reviewed regularly to ensure it reflects all additional funding.
"For example it was most recently increased by £800m to £16.8bn on December 24th.
"We are likely to increase this shortly to take into account any further expected increases in support in England."
Russell George MS, the Shadow Minister for Economy, Business and Infrastructure, said it is vital that the money is allocated quickly and where needed by the Welsh Government.
He added: "Further lockdowns are of course not the new year anyone wanted, but it’s imperative that all measures are taken to prevent the spread of the virus – especially this new variant – but the devastating effect of these lockdowns on our economies must be softened by measures like the ones Rishi Sunak has introduced over nearly 10 months.
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“That’s why we welcome this additional £227m, but we also make very clear that it’s up to the Welsh Labour-led Government to make sure this money from HM Treasury is made available and accessible to businesses with immediate effect.
“Many businesses are now on their knees, and the usual delays by the Labour government, as we saw before Christmas, in making funds available will just drive businesses and businesspeople further into the ground.”