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Future EU Finances and Own Resources

Unemployment is going down; gross domestic product is going up, but the important thing to recognise is that, in the Government’s extremely skilful negotiations, they were able to ensure that the figures used by the European Commission were a little out of date—[Interruption.] That is true. They do not show effectively the tremendous improvement in the south Wales economy. I am pleased to say that we are having our cake and eating it. Our Government can be criticised for many things, but they cannot be criticised for not being adept at negotiations. That is a practical, material, down-to-earth example that highlights clearly how effective the Government have been in ensuring the continuing development of areas such as the south Wales valleys.