Objective 1 is currently big Weish Having secured tive 1 status for West Wales and the valleys, from 2000 to 2006, Labour is under presprovide funds SUIS match those being allocated by Brussels.
this funding not announced final Assembly budget on February 8. the three no connaence in first secretary Alun Michael.
Assembly rules, Michael will be obligea to resign.
what is all the fuss about?
Objective by the European tion by Union (EU) to those regions whose Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is less than 75 per cent of the EU average. Wales'.
dividing Wales on an East-West basis, rather than falling behind. the poorest EYE called poor"" divide, then all of the west- realise.
utilise the ern seaboard and the South This reflects a very real Ably, growth in incquality between those arcas and more prosperous parts such as Cardiff the souch and Flintshire and Wrexham in the north.
of additional funding.
A report written in support of Wales' Objective 1 applicaallocated Kevin Morgan and Adam Price hichhchted the depth of social problems in mula. what they called "The Other In terms not only of GDP in this amount to needs of Objective 1. sensitive indices, such houschold incomes, then the is refusing to give any assurwest and ine varieys ahead of the announcements In their words: "Wales is on the comprehensive spendpart of Great review, expected next Britain (and) the west con- October.
what can properly be This "the poorest possibility that oe cut from oler, aircaay But securing Objective 1 over-stretched parts of the many people matched funds. fully this, Wales available funds, emulating one of ine worst the British government, or in aspects this case the Weish Assem- ence of EU funding, where must provide matched cash was health and social spending to With £1.2 billion allocated finance to Wales over six years, economic development probetween £0.5 and El billion This approach, of robbing the poor to pay the "poorest At present, the block grant of the poor', is the Welsh unacceptable allocated group 8858IS Labour Action and a number Treasury of senior Labour figures have maac wichy cicar that ther already will be no automatic increase tion to this course of action.
Local Labour parties and mect the trade union branches must man Alum шол? matched funding matched funding leaves the very real money will begin to add their voices protest. than full matched funding.
budget to release over and above the Barnett formula, is acceptable. would be At the same time, important of the Irish experi- the significance of Objective not to foster illu. diverted sions in what the money can achieve. Plaid Comru have made great political capital out of marched funding, and justifi20 4 30. talked 01 a 'Euro completely bonanza' and a 'once in a liferime chance to transform the Weish Weish economy'. Obiective 1 is nol a casn bonanza, amounting to some raised their opposi- E350 million a year.
Spared to the Assembly budaddress the long term social KO and economic problems in While maximum unity full required in demanding matched funding, the debate Objective must not sary discussion on developing truly redistributive social and economic policies for Wales. The Welsh Assembly does not have the power to implehave also ment such policies: this does cash it shouldn't talk about them. The Other Wales - the case for Objective I by Kevin Price available from the IWA, Oldfield, Llantrisant Road, Cardiff CES 2YO. for 21.S0 including postage and packOutlook scotl
the traditional North-South A WELSH
ge: of over £8 billion. Such a i quantity is not sufficient to