Welsh assembly demands funds

Members of the Welsh assembly’s social justice committee have
called on the assembly finance minister to write to the Treasury
urging it to rethink the country’s Supporting People allocation.

The draft assembly budget for 2005-6 outlines plans for a £13m
(9.7 per cent) cut in Supporting People funding for Wales, due to a
fall in the money for the programme it receives from the UK
government.

Campaigners and assembly politicians fear such a reduction could
increase homelessness, poverty and hospital admissions and force
many services to make cutbacks.

Welsh Local Government Association spokesperson on housing Neil
Rogers said: “Key strategies and objectives could also be adversely
affected, meaning health board and social services’ budgets will
also be under more financial pressure.”