Call for Senedd to delay Christmas break for 'difficult' budget

Welsh Parliament members should delay their Christmas break so they can scrutinise spending plans worth £20bn, Plaid Cymru has said.

The Welsh government will publish its next budget on 19 December, after Senedd proceedings end for Christmas.

Plaid said MSs should be recalled to Cardiff Bay the following day because of the "severe" impact the budget is expected to have.

But the idea was dismissed by a Welsh government minister on Tuesday.

The minister in charge of government business said she saw no reason to arrange a one-off sitting of the parliament.

Labour Finance Minister Rebecca Evans has said she postponed the budget until the Christmas recess because of the timing of important announcements in Westminster.

It was originally due to be published on 12 December.

But after the chancellor confirmed he would deliver his autumn statement on 22 November the Welsh government decided "it would not be possible to produce robust spending plans within the original timetable".

Last week Ms Evans warned the budget will be "extremely difficult".

"Our Welsh government budget actually decreases in real terms next year and, obviously, that's going to have an impact also on the budgets of local authorities as well," she said.

The Senedd's first budget debate is due to happen on 9 January.

In a letter to the presiding officer - the politician who chairs Senedd meetings - Plaid Senedd member Heledd Fychan said: "It is clear to us that this is a matter of urgent public importance and the whole Senedd must be provided the opportunity to scrutinise the draft budget as soon as possible."

In the chamber, the Trefnydd, Lesley Griffiths, who arranges government business, said she had not seen the letter "but I wouldn't see the necessity to recall the Senedd next week, no".