Commenting on figures showing GDP per head was only 71 per cent of the EU27 average in West Wales & the Valleys in 2008, Shadow Minister for Economy Darren Millar AM said:
“This figure is a damning indictment of the economic situation Labour-Plaid has put us in.
“It is the lowest percentage of the EU27 average in any part of the UK, and it puts West Wales and the Valleys on a par with areas like Yugozapaden in Bulgaria and Alentejo in Portugal.
“We should be doing so much better, particularly as this area has received European funding.
“The First Minister needs to look hard at these disastrous results and explain why this region is faring so badly compared with other parts of the UK.
“Wales needs a much more coherent economic policy with far better support for our businesses.”
