THE Spring budget announced by Chancellor Phillip Hammond today, Wednesday (Mar 8) has left an air of uncertainty in Wales. The Swansea City Deal failed to bloom and was deemed as not ready for signing. There was very little in the budget to have any significant impact of benefit to Welsh people, however there were generous sums of money allocated to impact on the lives of women and girls as the chancellor announced new funding totalling £20m to support the campaign against violence against women and girls.
Following on the theme of women’s rights the chancellor announced a further £5m for a project to celebrate the centenary of women first getting the vote, and to educate young people about its significance.
The Welsh Government get £200m however there is uncertainty as to where and how that money will be spent.
The economy is expected to grow by 2% in 2017 but slow to 1.6% in 2018
Fuel duty was frozen but cigarettes are to go up 35p for a packet of 20 and beer is to go up by 2p a pint, cider up by 1p, whiskey 36p a bottle and still wine 10p.
Chancellor Philip Hammond also announced in the Budget that the rate for Class 4 NICS would rise from 9% to 10% in April 2018, and to 11% in 2019.
