FIRST Minister Carwyn Jones today welcomed an offer from David Cameron to postpone Wales's share of public spending cuts from this financial year.

At his first meeting with Mr Jones yesterday the Prime Minister repeated an offer to shield the Assembly Government's budget for 2010-11 from additional spending cuts being planned by the Treasury.

Mr Jones welcomed the "flexibility’’ for his administration, despite previously giving the idea a cool reception.

Mr Jones and Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones briefed reporters on their 30-minute meeting with the Prime Minister in Cardiff Bay.

The First Minister said: "The decision as to whether we take those cuts this year or next year will be taken by Cabinet, but it's very useful to have that flexibility.’’ He added: "We don't welcome the cuts in any shape or form, but the flexibility is useful.’’ The £6 billion savings being sought by the Westminster Government would mean cutting between £220 million and £250 million from the Assembly Government if "extrapolated to Wales’’, Mr Jones said.

"That can't possibly be made up of administrative savings,’’ he added.

"There are difficulties in making cuts any time, but there are particular difficulties in making cuts in year.’’