This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/6174197.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Crucial vote on assembly budget Deal reached on assembly budget
(about 4 hours later)
It is thought the Welsh Assembly Government is close to reaching a deal with Plaid Cymru, which could save its spending plans for 2007-8. The Welsh Assembly Government has reached a deal with Plaid Cymru to save its £14.4bn spending plans for 2007-8.
Members are due to vote later on the next year's budget and opposition parties could defeat it. Ministers agreed to give an extra £9.6m to schools and £1.7m more to specialist services for children with autism and special educational needs.
They say they will vote against the 2007-08 £14.4bn budget unless there is more money for education. Labour also promised that a one off £2m grant to help schools meet their fuel bills would now be paid every year.
But Plaid Cymru invited ministers to negotiate directly with them, breaking with the rest of the opposition. Plaid Cymru are now expected to abstain in the vote later to allow the budget to be passed.
If the opposition parties unite along with the independent members, they could defeat Labour's budget. Plaid Cymru leader Ieuan Wyn Jones said the entire package amounted to an extra £13.m for schools, although the other opposition parties argued that only £9m was new.
They have been jointly putting pressure on First Minister Rhodri Morgan to commit more money to education. 'Shabby backroom deal'
Plaid's split with the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives appears to offer the minority Labour government its best hope of delivering a budget. Mr Jones said: "This is new money meaning no other budgets will be cut to provide the extra funds, which is a major concession from the government."
I suspect that what we get in this final budget now will be less than we would have had if we'd have had that united response throughout Conservative leader Nick Bourne Assembly government finance minister Sue Essex said: "This represents a major investment by the assembly government in the education of children in Wales."
It is believed that any deal offer will be discussed by the Plaid group as a whole this morning before anything is agreed. But Conservatives assembly leader Nick Bourne accused Plaid of doing a "shabby backroom deal" with Labour rather than holding out for more money for education.
Plaid leader Ieuan Wyn Jones told BBC Wales: "I've said from day one that I wanted to see a proper budget reflecting some of the priorities that we had. He said: "Like Labour, Plaid Cymru have put their narrow self-interests before the needs of the people of Wales."
"I think the budget now does that up to a point but it's not sufficient. When and hopefully we can reach agreement - although that's not certain - the real beneficiaries will then be the schools of Wales." Hopes of a deal rose when Plaid Cymru last night invited ministers to negotiate directly with them, breaking with the rest of the opposition.
Welsh Conservative leader Nick Bourne said his party's vote would depend on what was in the final budget. This is new money meaning no other budgets will be cut to provide the extra funds which is a major concession from the government Ieuan Wyn Jones Plaid Cymru leader
He added: "It's clear that Plaid Cymru has broken ranks, they've sought direct negotiation with the government. I think that's a mistake because I think the strength was a united approach. Sources have described the talks between the two parties as "amicable" and "constructive".
"I suspect that what we get in this final budget now will be less than we would have had if we'd have had that united response throughout." It is understood the deal was discussed by the Plaid group as a whole this morning before it was agreed with Labour.
Re-open negotiations In his pre-Budget report Chancellor Gordon Brown announced an extra £165m for Wales over the next four years including £9m next year.
Opposition parties in Cardiff Bay had said they would vote down Labour's £14bn spending plans unless £22m more was found for schools and universities. However, all three opposition parties had said that even if the entire sum were to go to education it would still not be enough to persuade them to let the budget through.
But in his pre-Budget report Chancellor Gordon Brown announced an extra £165m for Wales over the next four years including £9m next year. In the event, the entire £9m has gone to education together with another £2m from next year's reserves.
However, all three opposition parties have said that even if the entire sum were to go to education it would still not be enough to persuade them to let the budget through. This latest increase is on top of funding rises already announced.
The Conservatives have urged Mr Morgan to re-open negotiations even at this late stage. Total education spending in Wales will increase by £383m next year, up by 24%.
And the Liberal Democrats have suggested the assembly be recalled from its Christmas break if necessary to get a budget passed.