North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has stated this afternoon that only a change of Government in Cardiff will improve Wales’ worrying economic position.
Speaking in the Welsh Conservatives Debate on the Welsh Economy, Mr Isherwood said that “despite inheriting economic crisis and empty coffers, prudent UK Governments since 2010 have successfully exploited opportunities to realise the UK’s economic potential”, but that in Wales, after two decades of devolved Labour Government responsible for economic development and employability in Wales, the employment rate in Wales was both down and lagging behind the increased GB figure; the unemployment rate was up on the quarter and the highest amongst the UK nations; and the largest estimated decrease in workforce jobs in the UK was in Labour-led Wales, at 9,000.
Speaking in the Chamber he said:
“UK Research and development expenditure rose by £1.6 billion to £34.8 billion in 2017, above the long-term annual average increase since 1990.
“However, although the UK spent £527 on research and development per head of population, with England spending £554, Scotland £466 and Northern Ireland £371, the figure in Wales was only £238.
“In March, OECD figures showed that personal well-being levels have improved in the UK, as have mental health scores – increasing by 4.6% between 2011 and 2016 to 63.2%. Only this month, however, research Commissioned by the End Child Poverty Network showed that Wales was the only UK Nation to see a rise in child poverty last year.
“Typically, the Welsh Government blamed UK Government policies – where anybody capable of independent thought would understand that UK Government policies applying in Wales also apply throughout the UK, whereas only Wales has suffered two decades of Labour led Government in Cardiff.
“And this, despite the Welsh Government having blown Billions on top-down programmes meant to tackle poverty and drive down the prosperity gap to the rest of the UK.”
Mr Isherwood also referred to ONS figures for 2017 which in February revealed that productivity levels in all regions of Wales were below the average for the UK, with even the best-performing counties of Flintshire and Wrexham still 4% below the UK average
He added: “Wales remained the least productive of the 12 UK nations and regions. Even more shockingly, growth in the value of goods and services produced per head in Wales had been slower than Scotland, Northern Ireland and England once again.
“Successive Labour Welsh Governments have failed to close the gap between the richest and poorest parts of Wales – and between Wales and the rest of the UK.”
He added: “The Welsh Government amendment claims a lack of UK Government investment in Wales – conveniently forgetting, for example: that proportionately Wales receives £12 million for every £10 million spent in England on services devolved to Wales; Nearly three quarters of a Billion pounds for City and Growth Deals in Wales; Almost £1 Billion of defence spending in Wales last year alone, supporting over 6,000 jobs, and £2 Billion Network Rail Investment over the next five years.
“As a Nation celebrating innovation and entrepreneurship and embracing technological advancement, Wales would be extraordinarily well placed to benefit from the new industrial revolution – but the real change we need will only begin with a change of Government in Cardiff.”
