LAST week the Welsh Labour Government set out its budget for the forthcoming year.

It’s a budget that aims to protect services in communities like Blaenau Gwent from the damage of Tory austerity. Austerity that, for the last seven years, has seen a reduction of around £1.2 billion in the money Wales receives from Westminster.

We know that the Tories care very little of the impact this reduction will have upon the people of Blaenau Gwent and we know that the Tories are determined to cut our public services. Despite this, this Welsh budget has demonstrated how determined Welsh Labour is to protect our core services and our communities.

In this budget we are seeing more money for local health services and the protection of social care budgets. We are seeing our education budgets protected so that we do not see the same chaos that we are witnessing in England.

We are seeing half a billion pounds of additional funding going into the NHS and we are seeing £70 million pounds of investment in childcare via the Welsh Labour Governments flagship free childcare offer, being piloted in Blaenau Gwent, for working parents.

Not a week goes by without my office supporting someone who has been affected by the UK Government welfare reforms. Whilst the Tories carry on hitting our most vulnerable in their pockets, the Welsh Labour Government is determined to support people in our communities. The Supporting People programme, which helps some of the most vulnerable residents across Blaenau Gwent, is being protected with an additional £10 million pounds worth of funding year on year.

UK Government welfare cuts have resulted in many more homeless people on our streets and I believe that the Welsh Labour Government is right to set out plans to spend an additional £10 million pounds to tackle this.

I welcome this budget and call on the UK Government to end austerity and start investing in our public services and protecting our communities.

l As always, if you have any Blaenau Gwent issues or concerns that you would like to discuss, please pop along to a surgery, contact my office on 01495 311160, email me at: Alun.Davies@assembly.wales or get in touch via Facebook at: facebook.com/AMAlunDavies.

My next advice surgeries are being held on Friday, October 27, 3-4pm at Ebbw Vale Library and on Thursday, November 2, 3.30-4.30pm at my office on Beaufort Street, Brynmawr. No appointment necessary.