§ 7. Mr. FlightIf he will make a statement on per capita spending levels in Wales. [17476]
§ Mr. HainIn 1996–97, control total expenditure within the Welsh Office's area of responsibility was £2,348 per head.
§ Mr. FlightHow does that compare with spending per capita in England? If, as I suspect, it is some 25 per cent. higher, will there be a fair apportionment of spending between the people of England and of Wales when the minority of Wales has its Assembly?
§ Mr. HainTalking about fair comparisons, the hon. Gentleman's constituency in south-east England receives 14 per cent. more than the average GDP per head for England. In Wales, GDP is 18 per cent. less than the English average and the figure has got relatively worse over the past 20 years. Personal income is 17 per cent. lower and has got worse. Unemployment, poverty and health are all worse. In view of the shameful Tory record, the hon. Gentleman should be grovelling instead of griping.
Mr. Gareth ThomasDoes my hon. Friend agree that the establishment of a Welsh Assembly provides a much-needed opportunity to formulate an economic strategy for Wales and to address the prosperity gap to which he referred?
§ Mr. HainI very much agree with my hon. Friend. For the first time, a Welsh Assembly will be able to address the real needs of Wales—north and south, east and west; in both poor and well-off areas—to develop a coherent economic strategy for Wales. Some weeks ago, I published a document on that matter, setting out the basis for a debate so that we can progress to a high-quality, world-beating economy in Wales.