How long does it take for NHS Wales to spend 拢70m?

Image source, WPA Pool

Image caption, What the doctor ordered: George Osborne finds an extra 拢2bn for health
  • Author, David Cornock
  • Role, 大象传媒 Wales Parliamentary correspondent

Black Friday appears to have passed, although Cyber Monday is still with us and the cash is being splashed.

In London, George Osborne has announced that he plans to spend an extra 拢2bn "into the frontline of the NHS across the United Kingdom" in his Autumn Statement on Wednesday.

"Across the United Kingdom?" The NHS, as you know, is devolved so the chancellor cannot tell the Welsh government how to spend the money but his comments a) enable his own sums to reach a nice big fat 拢2bn, b) keeps the Welsh NHS on the political agenda and c) allows the coalition to claim the credit for any extra funding.

The Welsh government - which won't say anything on the subject until after Wednesday's statement - can choose to spend the money as it sees fit despite the coalition pressure to use it on health.

How much money is there? The Welsh share of the 拢1.3bn of actual new money (拢700m of the 拢2bn is re-allocated from existing NHS budgets) is around 拢57m. Throw in Wales's share of the proceeds from fines on errant bankers and it adds up to more than 拢70m next year (2015-16).

It sounds like a lot of money. But what can you get for 拢70m this year? A footballer? With spending on NHS delivery in Wales around 拢5.9bn a year, or 拢113m a week, the extra money is the equivalent of keeping the health service going for less than a week.

What else can we expect this week? Both the prime minister and his deputy have visited Stonehenge today (separately) to champion a coalition "roads revolution" in England. The does mention - in passing - the Severn crossings but doesn't add much to the sum of human knowledge.

It says: "This investment period is also likely to see the conclusion of the Severn Crossings concession agreement, under which the concessionaire responsible for building the new bridge has been recouping their costs. The government will work with its counterpart in Wales, and other stakeholders, to find a future for the crossings that can both ensure the long-term maintenance of the bridge and provide the best support to the economies of the region and Wales."

Tomorrow, we will get the coalition's national infrastructure plan, the Treasury's annual opportunity to mention rail electrification and the M4. Look out too for a reference to the proposed Swansea Bay tidal lagoon, which I understand was the centrepiece of the Wales Office's submission to the Treasury ahead of the Autumn Statement.