Download Title: Plaid Cymru MP calls for regular Welsh GDP figures Response

Title: Plaid Cymru MP calls for regular Welsh GDP
figures
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Graeme Walker
17/05/2012 14:25
To:
cc:
Subject:
[email protected]
[redacted]@wales.gsi.gov.uk, Trevor Fenton/IOSD
PLAID CYMRU MP CALLS FOR REGULAR WEL
Kate
You may know that I have recently changed jobs and replaced Glenn Everett as Head of National and
Regional Accounts.
We have been asked by the Western Mail for a response to the comments by Jonathan Edwards about
Welsh GDP (see below).
I have discussed with Stephen Penneck and we are proposing saying in response:
"Compiling measures of GDP for Wales and the other countries of the UK is difficult given the interrelated
nature of the UK economy. We have a regular dialogue with the Welsh Government and are always
happy to discuss their priority needs."
Could you or any of the copy recipients please let me know whether you are content with this response
asap.
Best wishes.
Graeme Walker
Head - National Accounts Coordination Division
Office for National Statistics
+44 (0) 1633 455824
PLAID CYMRU MP CALLS FOR REGULAR WELSH GDP FIGURES
WELSH ECONOMY DRIFTING WITHOUT INFORMATION OR POWER
Plaid Cymru MP Jonathan Edwards has called for a Welsh GDP measure to be calculated by
the Office for National Statistics to help the Welsh Government make swift and important
decisions on the Welsh economy.
Mr Edwards, Plaid Cymru’s Treasury spokesperson, said that the Welsh Government was now
in charge of economic development in Wales but was doing so with neither the job-creating tools
nor sufficient information on which to base decisions.
Speaking in a debate on ‘Jobs and Growth’ in the House of Commons, Mr Edwards warned
that, without this information, the Welsh economy is drifting with neither the power to change
course or the information to know which way to turn.
Mr Edwards said:
“Right now, the Welsh economy is drifting, with neither the power to change course or the
information to know which way to turn.
“Information on how the Welsh economy is performing is crucial to making the right
decisions. Without knowing where we are going, we can’t know whether we need to change
course for safer waters or to avoid smashing into the rocks.
“At present, we have an annual figure for Gross Value Added for Wales, published nearly
a year later, and an Index of Production and Construction and the Welsh Index of Market
Services for each quarter, but these are published four months later.
“In the case of the first quarter results from March, we won’t see them until the end of July
when the Assembly is in recess.
“In contrast, the UK Government gets the first GDP figures from the ONS within weeks
and, through Government and Expenditure Review Scotland (GERS), the Scottish
Government get their information within six weeks.
“There is a clear need for a reliable and robust measure of the Welsh economy on this
similar timescale so that the Welsh Government can accurately know how well or badly
our economy is doing.
“The Welsh Government are responsible for economic development but support only
minimal job-creating levers that would help the Welsh economy.
“If Labour are serious about shielding Wales from Westminster’s cuts then they need the
Welsh Assembly to take control of all job-creating powers to develop the Welsh economy
and not leave Wales at Westminster’s mercy."
Title: Plaid Cymru MP calls for regular Welsh GDP
figures
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Graeme Walker
17/05/2012 14:38
To:
cc:
Subject:
[redacted]@ONS, DG@ONS
Fw: PLAID CYMRU MP CALLS FOR REGULAR W
Looks like the green light.
Graeme Walker
Head - National Accounts Coordination Division
Office for National Statistics
+44 (0) 1633 455824
----- Forwarded by Graeme Walker/STID/BSG/NEWPORT/ONS on 17/05/2012 14:37 [email protected]
I.Gov.UK
To Graeme Walker/STID/BSG/NEWPORT/ONS@ONS
17/05/2012 14:34
cc
Subje FW: PLAID CYMRU MP CALLS FOR REGULAR WELSH
ct GDP FIGURES
Hi Graeme
You response looks fine to me. Our response is below - it is different, but complementary. Do let me
know if it causes you any problems, though.
Jonathan
"The Welsh Government's policy levers mainly operate over the longer term. Where it is
appropriate to respond to short term changes in economic circumstances, information on the
labour market is more relevant than GDP (or the conceptually equivalent measure of GVA), and we
have timely and frequent labour market data. More frequent GDP figures would therefore
represent only a very limited improvement in the quality of information available to the Welsh
Government. Even over the longer term, GDP per head can be a misleading measure, and needs
to be set in the context of a wider set of indicators, for example employment, unemployment,
economic inactivity, average earnings, gross disposable household income and primary
incomes."
Jonathan Price
Chief Economist
Llywodraeth Cymru / Welsh Government
Ffôn / Tel (029) 2082 5091
E-bost [email protected]/ E-mail [email protected]
From: Chamberlain, Kate (SPF&P - KAS)
Sent: 17 May 2012 14:28
To: Price, Jonathan (SPF&P - KAS)
Cc: Morris, John (SPF&P - KAS); [redacted] (SPF&P - KAS); [redacted] (SPF&P - KAS); Costello, Jarlath
(SPF&P - KAS)
Subject: FW: PLAID CYMRU MP CALLS FOR REGULAR WELSH GDP FIGURES
Jonathan
I am content with your proposed response. Please can you also handle communication with Graeme on
the ONS response to ensure we are aligned.
Thanks
K