8. Welsh Conservatives debate: 'Prosperity for All'

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 6:36 pm on 24 January 2018.

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Photo of Ken Skates Ken Skates Labour 6:36, 24 January 2018

I shall in a moment. During that period, the employment rate in Wales has increased more quickly than in the UK, since devolution again: 6.5 per cent up compared to 3.1 per cent across the UK as a whole. The economic inactivity rate since devolution has fallen more quickly in Wales than the UK as a whole: down 4.5 per cent compared to 1.9 per cent across the UK. In terms of workforce jobs, we've seen an increase that is more rapid in Wales than in the UK as a whole since devolution: 21.5 per cent compared to 19.1 per cent. We've got 100,000 businesses, a record number. We've seen research and development spending by enterprises rise by 5 per cent in real terms, which is higher than the UK average of 2 per cent. All of these statistics show that we are on the right path, and it must be borne in mind as well that, during the period of devolution, we have seen some of the most cruel welfare reforms, particularly for people who are in work, the introduction of universal credit and a prolonged period of austerity that the Conservatives, I am afraid, still refuse to apologise for. I now give way.