NEW LABOURS ECONOMIC POLICY IN WEST WALES AND THE VALLEYS

Early day motion 611, tabled 31 January 2005 by Adam Price (Plaid Cymru). Signed by 4 members.

That this House notes with deep concern recently published Eurostat figures concerning regional gross domestic product (GDP) figures for 2000-02, which indicate that West Wales and the Valleys have an EU 25 average of 73.8 per cent.; notes that West Wales and the Valleys had an average of 74 per cent. of the old EU 15 when they were awarded Objective 1 status from 1999 to 2006; further notes that West Wales and the Valleys' GDP is less than that of former Eastern Bloc regions such as Slovenia and that Inner London has a GDP rating of 309.4 per cent. of the EU 25 average; believes that these figures are a damning indictment of New Labour's failed economic policies in West Wales and the Valleys; calls for the UK Government to implement a genuine regional economic policy aimed at tackling growing regional wealth inequalities; and further calls for the UK Government and the Welsh Assembly Government to negotiate a further period of full Objective 1 funding for West Wales and the Valleys.

Signatures by party: Plaid Cymru 3, Scottish National Party 1.