6th June 2012

Carwyn Jones AM’s annual report highlights life science investment for Wales

Just over a year after Labour took sole control of the ministerial levers of power in Wales, and on the back of a clear pledge to make “delivery” the keyword of his government, first minister Carwyn Jones yesterday issued the very first annual report – and called for increased powers for Cardiff Bay.

Economy

Declaring that jobs were the key priority, he pointed to the establishment in April of Jobs Growth Wales aimed at creating 4,000 jobs a year for young people throughout Wales.

Turning to Cardiff Bay’s efforts to boost capital spending to support Welsh business, he pointed to the Welsh Economic Growth Fund, which has so far committed over £30 million, levering in, as a result, £91 million of capital investment. He pointed also to the £100 million Life Science Fund as well as the Infrastructure Investment Plan published just last week.

However, in a barbed comment aimed squarely at Whitehall he noted:

“Our scope for action would be much greater if the UK government accepted the case for the Welsh government to have the power to borrow for capital investment within defined limits.”

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