Coalition Arithmatic

Steve Thomas, Chief Executive of the Welsh Local Government Association does have a tendency to occasionally slip into jargon - but today he was talking straight. The subject under discussion was today's announcement by the Assembly Coalition Government's draft spending plans for the next three years (I hesitate to call it a budget because it includes only the spending side of the equation).

I had to take note of things because Radio Cymru were down to me to speak on behalf of the Conservatives on Post Prynhawn. The structure of the piece was interesting. Rhodri Morgan to set out the Government's position - as expected. But then it was over to Alun Ffed Jones for what seemed like a response - which took the biggest chunk of the remaining time. For all the world as if he was representing the 'opposition'. Has the news that Plaid Cymru are now in Government reached the Bangor studio yet? Or that the Conservatives are now the official opposition in Cardiff Bay. Still, I suppose I was only on the programme to ensure it could be claimed there was political balance.

Interesting headline figures though. We have been told that the overall Treasury block grant has increased by just 1.8%. Yet today we are told that Health spending will go up 4.2%, Education up 4.0% and Local Government up by 2.2%. Must be a bit of smoke and a few mirrors around Cardiff Bay ! About the only solid information we can glean out of this is that local government spending is receiving half the increase of other main public services. So Steve Thomas toured the studios to tell us straight that Council Tax is going to go up, and Council services are going to be subject to '1000 cuts' - especially in North and Rural wales. You have been warned. But just remember that the Government is a Labour/Plaid Coalition.

And did you manage to keep a straight face when Finance Minister, Andrew Davies said he was going to light "A bonfire of inefficiencies"? Did you manage not to fall about laughing when he talked about saving £600 million over the three years. It really is the way he tells them. He could earn a living writing scripts for Max Boyce.