§ 23. Mr. Simon CoombsTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the economy in Wales. [18850]
§ Mr. HagueThe Welsh economy is doing very well. Unemployment is falling fast. Manufacturing output is rising faster than in the UK generally. Manufacturing productivity is well above the UK average. Industrial disputes are low. Wales is a favoured location for inward investment. Business confidence is rising faster in Wales than in almost every other UK region, and independent forecasters say that the Welsh economy will grow faster than that of the UK in the future.