AM Swansea schools and Hospitals Biggest Budget Winners

• Spending plans will deliver Labour's election promises says Andrew Davies AM

Local health and education services in Swansea are the biggest winners in the Assembly Government's budget, with spending in Wales set to double since 1999.

Andrew Davies Minister for Finance and Public Service Delivery announced the budget and said that the extra £3.64 billion for frontline public services shows people can trust Welsh Labour to deliver on their promises.

This year's budget is over £2bn higher than last year's, and by 2011 will total more than twice as much as the Assembly's first £7bn budget in 1999.

The Labour led Assembly Government's spending plans for the next three years will deliver:

• £3.64bn of new investment in public services, including £1.2bn extra for health
• Making an affordable home a reality for those who need it - to ensure 6,500 new affordable homes by 2011
• Action to tackle climate change - more money for recycling and flood defences
• More investment in local and national transport - including public transport
• Further funding for modern apprenticeships and the new Welsh curriculum
• Extra help for pensioners to pay council tax
• More childcare places

Swansea West AM Andrew Davies said:

''In May this year, voters in Swansea and across Wales put their trust in Welsh Labour to deliver more and better jobs, more affordable housing, more child care, better schools and hospitals and action on climate change.

''These promises have been honoured by the Assembly Government's spending plans for Wales. This budget will deliver record spending for our schools and health service.

''Welsh Labour wants to meet the rising aspirations of people in Swansea which is why I am delighted with the commitment to make affordable housing a reality for many more local families and first time buyers.

''Extra support for helping pensioners with their council tax and more money for child care places is going to make a difference in people's lives and shows Welsh Labour's commitment to supporting everyone in our community.

''This budget is about getting value for money - and Welsh Labour will work harder than ever before to ensure that this money goes where it is needed most - to give people in Swansea the public services they deserve.''

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