O'Dowd reiterates need for fair and sustainable budget in meeting with Chief Secretary to the Treasury

Date published: 17 September 2026

Minister O’Dowd welcomed the first Finance: Inter-Ministerial Standing Committee (F:ISC) since the appointment of the Welsh and Scottish Finance Ministers.

Following the meeting, Minister O’Dowd commented: “Workers, families, businesses, and those delivering our public services, pay their taxes and deserve quality public services. 

“During my meeting with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury today I reiterated that the proposed funding package on offer from the Westminster Government is insufficient to deliver quality public services here. 

“We need to move beyond the cycle of short-term financial interventions that has constrained long-term planning and investment in public service transformation. This requires a stable and recurring funding settlement that reflects need and enables the delivery of high-quality public services.”

Minister O’Dowd concluded: “We are committed to undertaking the reforms and transformation required to secure the long-term sustainability of our public finances. The Westminster Government must play its part too by engaging urgently with us on a funding framework that properly reflects need, delivers stability, and enables high-quality public services. This includes providing access to the fiscal levers available elsewhere.

“We stand ready to make further progress on these issues urgently.”