Welsh Government will find £36m to bail out Westminster

THE WELSH Government is to find £36m from its reserves to plug a hole created by the UK Government's changes to National Insurance contributions (NICs).

- RUTH MOSALSKI Political editor

Sir Keir Starmer's Westminster Labour Government has upped the amount employers have to pay towards NICs.

Until April, businesses had to pay a rate of 13.8% on employees' earnings above £9,100 a year, but that was increased to 15% on salaries above £5,000. The employment allowance - the amount employers can claim back from their NI bill - was increased from £5,000 to £10,500.

The UK Government said the changes would eventually raise £25bn a year. However, there remain widespread concerns from charities and businesses in particular about how the extra money will be found.