Wales gets 'substantial subsidy', claims Stephen Crabb

Stephen Crabb says Wales enjoys more public spending per head than England

Welsh Secretary Stephen Crabb has denied Wales is underfunded by the UK government, saying it enjoys "a substantial subsidy".

He told MPs that the Barnett formula's extra per capita funding for Wales compared to England would be protected.

Plaid Cymru MP Jonathan Edwards reacted by saying the people of Wales paid more in tax than the Welsh government spent.

Welsh Labour's deputy health minister Vaughan Gething asked if Mr Crabb was being "serious" to deny underfunding.

Mr Crabb was giving evidence on Tuesday to the Welsh affairs committee at Westminster, who questioned him about the Welsh government's budget and UK government plans to protect funding.

The pledge of a "funding floor" had been made by David Cameron and Nick Clegg during a visit to Cardiff in February to announce plans for further devolution under the St David's Day agreement.