Written question WQ98975
- Asked by
- Huw ThomasLabour
- To be answered by
- Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 13 days
Question
What consideration has the Cabinet Minister given to recognising the impact of poverty and inequality within communities as a fundamental principle in the local government funding formula?
Answer
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning (Siân Gwenllian)
The Welsh Government recognises the impact of poverty and inequality within the local government funding formula through its established needs‑based approach.
The formula distributes funding to local authorities based on relative need, using indicators including deprivation, population and sparsity, to reflect the differing costs of delivering services across Wales. Deprivation forms a core element of the methodology, helping to ensure that areas facing higher levels of socio‑economic disadvantage receive a greater share of funding where this is evidenced in service demand and costs.
The Welsh Government is reviewing the underlying data and indicators, including those related to deprivation and sparsity, to ensure they continue to provide an accurate and robust reflection of relative need and costs.
This work is being taken forward in partnership with local government and will ensure that the formula remains transparent, evidence‑based and responsive to changing patterns of need across communities in Wales.