To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on prospects for the Welsh economy during 1991.

The progress of the Welsh economy in 1991 will be affected by world and United Kingdom conditions, which may lead to a fall in output and a rise in unemployment during the early part of the year. But this will be accompanied by a sharp fall in inflation and the successes of recent years mean that Wales is far better placed to cope with temporary difficulties and resume the growth path later in the year.