TWO Senedd scrutiny committees slammed the Welsh government’s draft Budget yesterday for being devoid of detail and failing to properly fund the women’s health plan.

The finance committee criticised the proposed Budget for the next financial year as riddled with “empty words” in its report published ahead of today’s discussion and vote on the Budget.

It called for urgent changes to be made as the current proposals “lack focus and clarity.”

The scrutiny report also calls on the Welsh government to publicise the funding it will receive from the Treasury to lessen the impact of the increase to National Insurance Contributions (NIC) and a commitment to pass the money to local authorities.

The NIC rise was also highlighted by five other Senedd committees as a worry for organisations in their sectors.

It also said the financial settlement for Wales was hailed by Chancellor Rachel Reeves as the “largest real-terms funding increase since devolution,” but spending plans don’t match the rhetoric and are nothing more than “empty words.”

Finance committee chairman Peredur Owen Griffiths said: “This committee and several others have heard from experts that the Budget plans for this year will not provide adequate levels of support for critical services.”

Plaid Cymru’s Heledd Fychan said: “This is a damning report, echoing our concerns that this is a Budget devoid of principle and purpose.” 

The Senedd’s health committee published its report on the draft Budget yesterday and said it is unclear how the Welsh government plans to deliver its long-awaited women’s health plan.

Health committee chairman Russell George said: “Given the scale of the task in this area we are concerned that the £3 million allocated for this purpose is insufficient.”

The committee called for clarity about the role they will play in tackling women’s health issues and urged the Welsh government to commit to a sustainable funding model to ensure that the women’s health plan can deliver long-term results.

A Welsh government spokesman said: “We will carefully consider all the committee reports ahead of our proposed final Budget, which will be laid later in February."

But the spokesman noted that decisions relating to employer’s National Insurance Contributions are a matter for the Westminster government.