Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen Liberal Democrats

Responding to the news that employment in Wales has increased by 10,000 over the last quarter and that 32,000 more people are in work than this time last year, Eluned Parrott, Shadow Minister for Business and Enterprise, said:

"These figures are good news. As we all know, the economic climate across Europe has made life incredibly difficult, however the labour market in the UK has remained strong. Wales' unemployment rate is higher than England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, but today's figures show that things are going in the right direction.

Responding the publication of the 'Wales Infrastructure and Investment Plan for Growth and Jobs', Peter Black, Welsh Liberal Democrat Shadow Finance Minister, commented:

"Barely a day in the chamber passes without the Welsh Labour Government complaining about the lack of resources available to them. Yet, as this report illustrates, funding from the UK Government is nowhere near as bad as the Welsh Government would have you believe. There is still scope to make a real difference to the lives of the people of Wales.

The long-awaited high quality Express Bus Service from Cardiff to Cardiff Airport, first promised by the Welsh Government in July 2009, will finally begin this August, First Minister Carwyn Jones announced today following pressure from Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member Eluned Parrott.

Eluned Parrott AM said;

The Welsh Government needs to be doing more to raise the profile of apprenticeships and to simplify the system to widen access to them, according to Shadow Business and Enterprise Minister Eluned Parrott.

Between 2006/7 and 2012/11 the number of people on apprenticeship placements in Wales fell by more than 25%. The Welsh Liberal Democrats will be leading a debate this week in the National Assembly suggesting key ways to reverse this decline by overcoming the barriers that prevent young people from seeking and applying for an apprenticeship programme in Wales.

Commenting ahead of Universities Week in the Senedd, Aled Roberts, Welsh Liberal Democrat AM for North Wales and Shadow Minister for Education in the Assembly said:

"Universities Week is an ideal opportunity for us to reflect on the value of the University sector to the Welsh economy.

"Despite the Education Minister's emphasis on Higher Education, it is clear that there is still a great deal of work which needs to be done to raise performance in Wales and to get at least one of our universities into the top 50.

Responding to the First Minister's announcement that the NHS financial regime will now operate on a three year cycle, rather than the current one-year cycle, Kirsty Williams, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats commented:

"The constant cycle of end of year bailouts was completely unsustainable. Therefore it makes sense for this system to be altered. It will hopefully allow Local Health Boards an opportunity to plan for the longer term, rather than being forced to make sharp unplanned cuts at the end of each year - cuts that could affect patient care and safety.

The economic benefits of offshore oil and gas production, for energy security, jobs, tax revenue and growth are set to be maximised, as Government announced the start of an independently-led review today.

The UK's oil and gas industry is of vital national economic importance, supporting 440,000 jobs, and stimulating business, innovation and skills. Some 41 billion barrels of oil and gas have already been produced from the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) and we must maintain our momentum and make the most of the huge opportunity that the UKCS still represents.

The review will be led by Sir Ian Wood, who will undertake full analysis, and work with industry leaders and Government to make recommendations for improving the future economic recovery of UKCS oil and gas.

Secretary of State Edward Davey said:

Responding to the Welsh Labour Government's u-turn that it is to ensure that Local Government Chief Executive pay will be referred to an Independent Remuneration Panel, Peter Black, Welsh Liberal Democrat Shadow Minister for Local Government, commented:

"When all three opposition parties work together, we can force the Welsh Labour Government to improve legislation for the better of Wales. It would be quite churlish of one political party to claim 'victory' on this issue. The three opposition parties can work well together, and indeed with the government, and we hope this will continue. Curbing excessive pay was a priority for us and we are glad that the Welsh Labour Government has listened to us."

"The MoD plans to fully integrate 30,000 fully-trained Reserves into the Regular Army by 2020, but this is going to be a real challenge which we need to do more to achieve. Surprisingly, Gurkhas aren't currently recruited into the Reserves automatically on leaving service - unlike other soldiers.

"We've got to retain the Gurkhas' unique skills and recognise their brave and dedicated service to this country by putting them into the Reserves. They can then lead the way in building the TA and the Regular Reserves into a new, rejuvenated and deployment-ready Future Reserves."

"There was nothing in this speech to demonstrate Labour have a plan on the economy. Labour left a record deficit, youth unemployment that had increased by 40% on their watch and a broken economy that had been focused on financial gamblers in the City of London for too long.

"Liberal Democrats are working in the Coalition Government to repair the damage done by Labour and build a stronger economy in a fairer society, enabling everyone to get on in life.

"We are creating jobs across the country through the Regional Growth Fund and Vince Cable is overseeing a record rise in apprenticeships, helping 1.2m people gain the skills and experience necessary for a successful career.

"We have made the tax system fairer than it has ever been for the low-paid, with people on national minimum wage seeing their tax bill cut in half and 20m working people are paying £600 a year less than they were under Labour.

"Empty speeches dressed up as economic plans will not convince the British people to trust Labour again."