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Public sector savings 'essential' Labour's 'big choice' conference
(about 3 hours later)
Public services in Wales such as the NHS, police and councils must become more efficient to avoid cuts, says First Minister Carwyn Jones. Welsh Labour says it is offering voters a choice between "continued leadership" and what it claims will be "deep cuts across the board" from the Tories.
He is due to outline plans for a new programme aiming aim to ensure taxpayers get value for money at Wales' first Public Services Summit. First Minister Carwyn Jones's first conference as leader in Wales will fix an "unstinting focus" on the general election.
He will tell senior public sector figures there will be growing pressure on budgets in coming years. He said voters could only avoid deep public spending cuts by voting Labour.
The meeting will come ahead of Labour's party conference on Saturday. The conference in Swansea starts on Saturday, and Mr Jones said it would show people they faced a stark choice.
Mr Jones said he believed money made from efficiency savings can then be used to protect vital front-line services. He said: "The next few years are going to be tough in terms of public spending. But there are two ways of doing it.
The first minister is expected to set out his proposals for an efficiency and innovation programme that he believes will ensure all public bodies in Wales make the best use of their finances. The truth is that this coming election will be one where we have to take sides Welsh Secretary Peter Hain
If we are to avoid financial pressures turning into crude service cuts, we have to accelerate the pace of change dramatically First Minister Carwyn Jones "Either you make deep cuts across the board, which is the Conservative way, or you look at what you want to prioritise, looking at areas like health and education, looking at prioritising services there and looking, of course, to continue to invest as the recession starts to ebb away
He is expected to tell the summit in Cardiff's City Hall: "If we are to avoid financial pressures turning into crude service cuts, we have to accelerate the pace of change dramatically.
"The potential is great - for example, every 1% efficiency gain in Wales' public sector procurement budget could save us up to £50m a year, and front-line services need that money."
It comes as members of Welsh Labour prepare for their spring conference, which starts on Saturday in Swansea.
At the conference Mr Jones will also drive home his message that voters face a choice at the general election between continued investment or "deep cuts across the board" from the Tories.
His first conference as Labour leader in Wales is billed as having an "unstinting focus" on the election.
Mr Jones said voters had a "stark" choice and could only avoid deep cuts in public spending by voting Labour.
Mr Jones said: "The next few years are going to be tough in terms of public spending. But there are two ways of doing it.
"Either you make deep cuts across the board, which is the Conservative way, or you look at what you want to prioritise, looking at areas like health and education, looking at prioritising services there and looking, of course, to continue to invest as the recession starts to ebb away.
Perhaps Ieuan Wyn Jones can stick his face on an advert which is actually a ministerial advert which we've seen in our papers locally and which I think, quite frankly, is despicable Llanelli MP Nia Griffith objects to a Welsh Assembly Government advert
Welsh Secretary Peter Hain said he knew there were tens of thousands of people in Wales who saw themselves not as dyed-in-the-wool Labour supporters but as "progressive supporters" who may vote for the Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru or the Greens.Welsh Secretary Peter Hain said he knew there were tens of thousands of people in Wales who saw themselves not as dyed-in-the-wool Labour supporters but as "progressive supporters" who may vote for the Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru or the Greens.
"I am not asking them to sign up to every dot and comma of Labour's policies and proposals, still less to renounce their principles," he said.""I am not asking them to sign up to every dot and comma of Labour's policies and proposals, still less to renounce their principles," he said."
"But the truth is that this coming election will be one where we have to take sides.""But the truth is that this coming election will be one where we have to take sides."
Mr Jones will give his first conference address as Welsh Labour leader on Saturday morning while Sunday's session will be dominated by Peter Hain's address.Mr Jones will give his first conference address as Welsh Labour leader on Saturday morning while Sunday's session will be dominated by Peter Hain's address.
Perhaps Ieuan Wyn Jones can stick his face on an advert which is actually a ministerial advert which we've seen in our papers locally and which I think, quite frankly, is despicable Llanelli MP Nia Griffith objects to a Welsh Assembly Government advert
On the eve of the conference, Llanelli Labour MP Nia Griffith condemned an advertisement featuring Plaid Cymru leader and Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones as "despicable".On the eve of the conference, Llanelli Labour MP Nia Griffith condemned an advertisement featuring Plaid Cymru leader and Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones as "despicable".
The assembly government advertisement featuring Mr Jones in his ministerial role appeared in a newspaper in her constituency.The assembly government advertisement featuring Mr Jones in his ministerial role appeared in a newspaper in her constituency.
'Totally bizarre'
Ms Griffith spoke of the difficulties she might face during the general election campaign, given that Labour and Plaid are partners in the assembly government.Ms Griffith spoke of the difficulties she might face during the general election campaign, given that Labour and Plaid are partners in the assembly government.
Ms Griffith said: "In some ways it has confused people, and I think in some ways it gives them (Plaid) a platform because they are a partner in that government.Ms Griffith said: "In some ways it has confused people, and I think in some ways it gives them (Plaid) a platform because they are a partner in that government.
"And perhaps Ieuan Wyn Jones can stick his face on an advert which is actually a ministerial advert which we've seen in our papers locally and which I think, quite frankly, is despicable.""And perhaps Ieuan Wyn Jones can stick his face on an advert which is actually a ministerial advert which we've seen in our papers locally and which I think, quite frankly, is despicable."
Ms Griffith said UK government departments sent out adverts outlining the work they did but did not put names or faces on them.Ms Griffith said UK government departments sent out adverts outlining the work they did but did not put names or faces on them.
A spokesperson for the deputy first minister said: "These comments are totally bizarre. This advert is simply part of the Welsh Assembly Government's ongoing campaign right across Wales to provide support for Welsh businesses during the recession."A spokesperson for the deputy first minister said: "These comments are totally bizarre. This advert is simply part of the Welsh Assembly Government's ongoing campaign right across Wales to provide support for Welsh businesses during the recession."