The Welsh Economy: Current Awareness This paper provides information on recent events, publications and legislative developments concerning the UK economy which may be of interest to Assembly Members. January 2009 Members’ Research Service / Gwasanaeth Ymchwil yr Aelodau The Welsh Economy: Current Awareness Alison Castree January 2009 Paper number: 09/003 © National Assembly for Wales Commission 2009 © Comisiwn Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru 2009 The Welsh Economy: Current Awareness Coverage This paper provides information on recent events, publications and legislative developments concerning the Welsh economy which may be of interest to Assembly Members. The electronic version of this paper contains hyperlinks to relevant websites. Consultations, Press Releases, Laid documents, Cabinet statements and news items are listed by date. 1. Press releases, initiatives and announcements.................................................. 1 1.1 Welsh Assembly Government.................................................................................. 1 1.2 The Scottish Government......................................................................................... 2 1.3 Northern Ireland Executive....................................................................................... 3 1.4 Europe...................................................................................................................... 3 1.5 Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR).................... 3 1.6 HM Treasury............................................................................................................. 4 1.7 Bank of England....................................................................................................... 4 2. Journal articles and news items........................................................................... 5 2.1 National news........................................................................................................... 5 2.2 The retail industry..................................................................................................... 5 2.3 Government initiatives.............................................................................................. 6 2.4 Job losses and closures in Wales ............................................................................ 6 2.5 The economy in Wales............................................................................................. 8 2.6 Profits, investments and expansions in Wales......................................................... 9 4. Cabinet statements .............................................................................................. 10 5. Publications, reports and research .................................................................... 11 5.1 Bank of England..................................................................................................... 11 5.2 Members’ Research Service publications .............................................................. 12 5.3 House of Commons Library Research Papers....................................................... 12 5.4 Further publications................................................................................................ 12 6. Official publications............................................................................................. 13 6.1 House of Commons papers.................................................................................... 13 6.2 Command Papers .................................................................................................. 13 7. Statistics ............................................................................................................... 14 7.1 Welsh Assembly Government................................................................................ 14 7.2 Scottish Government.............................................................................................. 14 7.3 Office for National Statistics ................................................................................... 15 7.4 Department for Communities and Local Government ............................................ 15 8. Legislation ............................................................................................................ 15 8.1 Business Rate Supplements Bill ............................................................................ 15 9. Laid documents.................................................................................................... 15 Members’ Research Service: Research Paper Gwasanaeth Ymchwil yr Aelodau: Papur Ymchwil Welsh Economy: Current Awareness 1. Press releases, initiatives and announcements 1.1 Welsh Assembly Government Welsh Assembly Government Press Release, Wales gets ‘ProActive’ in new pilot scheme, 14 January 2009 Welsh Assembly Government Press Release, Work begins on £8 million affordable housing project in Caerphilly, 14 January 2009 Welsh Assembly Government Press Release, Minister welcomes funding boost for loan scheme, 13 January 2009 Welsh Assembly Government Press Release, £8.4m office development for Newport attracting interest, 09 January 2009 Welsh Assembly Government Press Release, Social housing legislation announced by Welsh Assembly Government, 09 January 2009 Welsh Assembly Government Press Release, £1.4 million for Communities First in Powys, 09 January 2009 Welsh Assembly Government Press Release, Help for local government to pay their bills, 07 January 2009 Welsh Assembly Government Press Release, Exports drive expansion for Welsh world leader, 29 December 2008 Welsh Assembly Government Press Release, Broadband for six Welsh “not-spots”, 18 December 2008 Welsh Assembly Government Press Release, Customers’ rapport with software system earns top award for Cardiff firm, 16 December 2008 Welsh Assembly Government Press Release, Llanbedr plan will “maximise local benefits”, 16 December 2008 Welsh Assembly Government Press Release, “Taking tough decisions for challenging times”, 09 December 2008 Welsh Assembly Government Press Release, Additional £68 million to support the Welsh economy, 05 December 2008 Welsh Assembly Government Press Release, Investment boosts Welsh economy by nearly £1 billion, 05 December 2008 1 Members’ Research Service: Research Paper Gwasanaeth Ymchwil yr Aelodau: Papur Ymchwil Welsh Assembly Government Press Release, £19 million to help unemployed in South East Wales back to work, 04 December 2008 Welsh Assembly Government Press Release, Minister announces £350 million boost to Welsh economy, 02 December 2008 Welsh Assembly Government Press Release, Minister announces relief for small businesses, 28 November 2008 Welsh Assembly Government Press Release, £43 million to get people into work, 27 November 2008 Welsh Assembly Government Press Release, Major broadband advance for Wales, 27 November 2008 Welsh Assembly Government Press Release, Conference aims to tackle credit crunch head on, 26 November 2008 Welsh Assembly Government Press Release, Welsh Assembly Government hits targets on prompt payments, 20 November 2008 Welsh Assembly Government Press Release, £9.2 million investment for SA1 – “great news” for Swansea, 20 November 2008 Welsh Assembly Government Press Release, £7 million to help social enterprises grow, 20 November 2008 Welsh Assembly Government Press Release, £50 million funding to help South West Wales to work, 18 November 2008 Welsh Assembly Government Press Release, Green jobs will bring a wealth of opportunities to Wales, 18 November 2008 1.2 The Scottish Government Scottish Government Press Release, Increased support for small businesses, 28 December 2009 Scottish Government Press Release, Record investment for councils, 11 December 2009 Scottish Government Press Release, Third sector enterprise fund, 09 December 2009 Scottish Government Press Release, Council of economic advisors, 05 December 2009 Scottish Government Press Release, Cash to support construction, 27 November 2009 Scottish Government Press Release, Pre-budget report, 26 November 2009 Scottish Government Press Release, Economic measures needed, 20 November 2009 Scottish Government Press Release, Towns and city centres, 19 November 2009 2 Members’ Research Service: Research Paper Gwasanaeth Ymchwil yr Aelodau: Papur Ymchwil 1.3 Northern Ireland Executive Northern Ireland Executive Press Release, Dodds targets almost £70m to assisting low- income households and local industry, 01 December 2008 Northern Ireland Executive Press Release, Foster announces review of economic development policy, 01 December 2008 Northern Ireland Executive Press Release, Foster calls on local banks to do more to help people in debt, 13 November 2008 Northern Ireland Executive Press Release, Mallusk company invests over £3million to grow business, 12 November 2008 Northern Ireland Executive Press Release, Northern Ireland unemployment rate lowest among UK regions, 12 November 2008 Northern Ireland Executive Press Release, Foster comments on Northern Ireland’s economic challenges, 06 November 2008 1.4 Europe Members’ Research Service Briefing, European and External Affairs Committee paper 6: EUR(3)-01-09, European Briefing: Developing EEAC’s key priorities for 2009, 20 January 2009 European and External Affairs Committee paper 4: EUR(3)-01-09, The Welsh Assembly Government’s European Priorities For 2009: Including the European Economic Recovery Plan, 20 January 2009 Commission adopts European Economic Recovery Plan, European Commission,