Written - Additional capital funding allocations for 2009/10

I am today announcing details of the allocation of an additional £41.3 million of capital funding specifically for 2009/10. This amount is the consequential uplift to the Assembly Government’s capital expenditure budget stemming from this year’s UK Government Budget announcement.  It will provide an important economic stimulus to help people, communities and businesses in the face of the global recession, as well as taking forward the One Wales agenda.

The additional capital funding will be distributed across Assembly Government portfolio areas as follows:

• £1 million to the Department for Heritage for investment in culture. The Minister for Heritage will announce further details of this allocation later today.
• £12.2 million to the Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills. This extra investment will be focussed on the FE sector in Wales.
• £8.6 million to the Department for Health and Social Services.
• £12 million to the Department for Environment, Sustainability and Housing. The investment will be targeted at additional measures to improve energy efficiency, and the acceleration of housing projects across Wales.
• £7.5 million to the Department for Economy and Transport. Announcements will include investment in crucial road and rail services.

Details of capital projects that will be supported by this funding will be announced by the relevant portfolio Ministers over the next few days.

All projects supported by the additional funding are ready for implementation and many will immediately encourage additional employment across Wales to support our efforts to combat the recession.

The allocation of this additional capital funding will help to support labour intensive projects across Wales. The proposals represent strong value for money, ensuring that we stretch the Welsh pound to deliver the maximum benefits for individuals, businesses and communities across Wales.