THERE is no firm plan in place to improve health services in Wales, despite a commitment by the Welsh Government to increase spending in the sector by £245 million, a report has found.

As part of its draft budget for the 2016-2017 financial year the Welsh Government has pledged to increase health spending almost £7 billion.

But a report by the Welsh Assembly’s Finance Committee has said the government has failed to develop a firm plan for how that cash will be spent.

The committee also expressed concerns about the proposed £41 million cut to higher education services as well as a lack of progress in tackling poverty in Wales.

The committee’s chairwoman and Plaid Cymru AM for South Wales East Jocelyn Davies said: “While we do not doubt the allocations to health are needed, we remain concerned that there appears to be no firm plan for transforming the health service to ensure a focus on wellbeing and healthy living.

“The benefits of local government services such as leisure centres, parks and libraries, cannot be underestimated in terms of ensuring a healthy population.

“We envisage these sort of facilities playing a primary role in supporting the health of the Welsh nation.

“It was clear that a reduction in higher education funding will reduce the ability to prioritise widening access and will impact on students wishing to study part time, or through the medium of Welsh.

“Additionally, as a committee we were concerned about how these cuts would impact on the level and quality of research being undertaken by Welsh universities.”

The report will be debated by AMs in the Senedd on Tuesday, February 9.