THE WELSH GOVERNMENT’s strategy for a more prosperous Wales has been greeted with disbelief by opposition politicians, who have pointed out the complete absence of anything resembling a national economic strategy.
The document, called ‘Prosperity for All’, was launched by the Welsh Government the day following the celebration of twenty years of devolution. The Welsh Government claims that ‘the strategy is designed to drive integration and collaboration across the Welsh public sector, and put people at the heart of improved service delivery’.
On the document’s publication, First Minister Carwyn Jones said: “Yesterday we celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Yes vote that brought devolution to Wales. Devolution has been a journey of political maturity, a story of growing confidence and a firm determination to deliver for Wales.
“Today we publish a new national strategy designed to bring together the efforts of the whole public sector towards this Government’s central mission of delivering Prosperity for All.
“Prosperity is about far more than material wealth and cannot be delivered by economic growth alone. It is about every person in Wales enjoying a good quality of life, living in a strong, safe community and sharing in the prosperity of Wales.
“This strategy takes our commitments in Taking Wales Forward, places them in a long-term context, and sets out how they will be delivered in a smarter, more joined up way that cuts across traditional boundaries, both inside and outside government.”
However, the lack of meat in the policy sandwich was pounced upon by opposition politicians.
Adam Price said that the Welsh government had created anticipation for a new economic strategy on the floor of the Chamber, and noted that the strategy had been widely anticipated by the business community and even amongst Labour politicians who shared messages on social media.
Mr Price said that the business community would be bitterly disappointed that the long-awaited economic strategy had turned into a generic “national strategy” covering the whole of government and lacking detail.
Plaid Cymru Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Economy Adam Price said: “The Welsh Government’s long-awaited economic strategy has failed to materialise. After building anticipation of a new economic strategy, the government has published a ‘national strategy’ covering the whole of government.
“The brief section of the document that refers to an economic strategy shows little understanding of the scale of the challenge that faces us.
“Since the beginning of devolution, the Welsh economy has gone backwards on GVA. Even on Welsh Government’s favoured economic indicator – gross disposable income per head – we’ve gone backwards. The Welsh Government needs to introduce economic indicators in order to set itself targets to achieve, and to enable us to hold it to account on its performance.
“I also want to know on what basis the government has developed this economic strategy. Having spoken to business people and leading economists about the anticipated economic strategy, no one knew what was in it because the Welsh government had not engaged with them. Is this really the way to develop competent strategy?
“What the government has presented us with today is an empty vessel with no substance.”
The laudable but vacuous content of the document was greeted with barely concealed contempt by Welsh Conservatives, who suggested the document was ‘yet another relaunch for his tired Welsh Labour-led Government, Carwyn Jones’ statement attempts to correct the failings of his Party over the last 18 years’.
Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies said: “This latest dose of motherhood and apple pie from the Labour Government sadly lacks any significant detail and will certainly not inspire the people of Wales with any confidence that this vision will be any different from those which have come before it.
“Over the last 18 years in Wales there has been one common theme – the Labour Party sitting in Government in Cardiff Bay. Over this period, Labour have rehashed countless visions and programmes all in the noble aim of delivering prosperity to Wales but which have regrettably resulted in abject failure.
“Regional inequality continues to increase, serving as a national embarrassment for the Welsh Government, while we continue to harbour the weakest education system and lowest weekly wage of all the home nations – all delivered on Labour’s watch.
“Wales is in desperate need of a substantial tactical shift with solutions fit for the 21st century so we can improve the country’s economic and public service performance, something which this document emphatically fails to articulate.”
Response to the document’s content on the economy was not all negative.
Derek Walker, Chief Executive of the Wales Co-operative Centre, said: “The new national strategy signals a step in the right direction towards building a more inclusive economy. Welsh Government has put more focus on spreading opportunity, addressing regional equalities and promoting fair work.
“The proposal for a new economic contract between business and government could see businesses expected to do more to create a fairer society in return for Government’s support. I would expect the social businesses we work with will welcome this proposal.
“By their very nature social enterprises and co-operatives consider the social and environmental impact of their work alongside the bottom line. The Wales Co-operative Centre has already put inclusive economic growth at the heart of our new strategy. We look forward to working with Welsh Government to make it a reality”
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