WE should welcome the news from the Office of National Statistics last week, that unemployment in Monmouthshire, (at 2.7per cent of the population claiming JSA), is way below the Welsh average (4.1per cent) and the UK average as a whole (3.8per cent).

 It is also welcome news that unemployment across the UK is falling, and, as announced on Thursday, the British economy as a whole has grown by 1per cent in the last quarter.

These figures however should not give rise to any feelings of complacency. Whilst Monmouthshire is doing relatively well, the rest of Wales seems to be stagnating.

70,000 manufacturing jobs have been lost in Wales since the establishment of the Welsh Assembly, and whilst this is partly to do with the loss of industry to the Far East, much more could and should be done to encourage new and expanding businesses/industries to develop or relocate to Wales.

I would suggest that the creation of Enterprise Zones on the English side of the border is attracting dozens of new and relocating businesses to places such as Daresbury, Liverpool, Black Country, Bristol and Hereford, and encouraging the creation of many more jobs and better technical education to go with them.

In March 2011, 21 new Enterprise Zones were planned in England, and 5 were being considered in Wales. Today there are 24 already up and running in England and 7 still 'being considered' in Wales.

Remember last September Jaguar/Landrover was considering a new plant, and they chose West Midlands rather than Wales?

Not only has our Welsh Government failed to set up a single Enterprise Zone, to entice business and industry to locate in Wales, but a large proportion of our well-qualified high school and university students will soon be moving to England to find worthwhile jobs!

Wake up Wales! We're in a global market!

– Marian Lewis, Chepstow.