Budget Reaction

4.53.59pm GMT Mon 5th Nov 2007

Responding to the budget announcement, Welsh Liberal Democrat finance spokesperson Jenny Randerson said: "This budget has a clear message for the public - the treasury wouldn't give us the money so council tax payers will have to foot the bill for the gimmicks in the One Wales agreement.

"And any pensioners who were hoping to get council tax discounts will have to wait until 2009 at the earliest before they get any assistance.

"I was always concerned that the government would turn the screw on local authorities - forcing them to put up council tax. My initial reading seems to suggest that the allocation to some councils may not even be enough to cover an inflationary rise in the wage bill.

"I am shocked that Labour have cut the budgets for safer communities, and surprised at the end of match funding for European projects. Plaid Cymru used to argue that every pound of Objective One/Convergence Funding should be matched from the Treasury - but their own government has slashed the budgets to proved Assembly cash for worthwhile projects. The previous government argued that 'no worthwhile project would fail for lack of match funding'. I will be pressing the new Minister over whether that claim still holds true.

"On new social housing, Labour trumpeted that they would spend £450m over the life of the Assembly. This budget suggests they will be around £50m short.

"There's nothing specific on the Post Office Development Fund - I'll be raising this with Ministers when the come before the Finance Committee. The threat to the Post Office network has never been greater.

"I'm pleased to see that money has been set aside to invest in smaller class sizes at foundation phase - a key Lib Dem promise.. It's good to see that good ideas can get some support. I also welcome the additional money in the heritage budget - which should allow support for the Wales Millennium Centre, without taking cash from the rest of Wales.

"I acknowledge that this was always going to be a tough budget year. The CSR meant this year was always going to be difficult. But the Labour/Plaid government have not convinced me that this budget - which begs borrows and steals - is the best way forward for Wales."