WALES has worse outcomes in health and education than England, despite spending more in both areas, according to a major report published today.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) report says that the difference between Wales and England in spending per person on health, the area with the biggest budget, is 9 per cent. 

School spending per pupil in Wales is expected to be £8,700 in 2025–26, slightly above England’s expected level of £8,600.

The IFS notes that the Welsh NHS has more funding and staff than before the Covid-19 pandemic, but hospital activity has not increased proportionally, raising concerns about a fall in productivity in Wales. 

The think tank also said that Pisa tests show educational attainment to be low relative to England and that there has been a decline in the number of 16 and 17-year-olds in full-time education in Wales.

However, Laura Doel of school leaders’ union NAHT said: “While the Pisa analysis can be useful, we should not overinterpret these results and rely on simplistic comparisons.

“School leaders will be particularly interested to understand where the increased spending on education identified by the IFS has gone, because it has not reached the front line.”

Plaid Cymru health spokesman Mabon ap Gwynfor said: “This report confirms what people across Wales already know — the state of our NHS and our schools is simply not good enough.”

The Welsh government said: “We continue to work closely with health boards and local authorities to improve front-line public services at a time when costs are rising. 

“The NHS waiting list has fallen and our education system is moving in the right direction, thanks to the additional support we are providing to schools.”