The great rent rip off

Flintshire is losing over £6 million every year from council tenants rents to subsidise councils in London and Manchester.

Plaid Cymru have lifted the lid on the rent scandal that has seen Wales lose £1 billion over the last 10 years. Through the housing subsidy system, Flintshire has lost a staggering £62 million over the last decade. Neighbouring county Wrecsam suffers the worst loss, with a huge £110 million syphoned off over the same period.

Wales was initially included in the system by the Tories and it was subsequently kept up by Labour.

Under existing arrangements, a substantial proportion of council rents collected in Wales are taken by the UK government to fund poorer performing councils in England.

Carrie Harper, Plaid Cymru’s Assembly candidate for Delyn said “ People have a right to know what happens to council tenants rents in Flintshire. To have to hand over £6 million every year to subsidise councils outside Wales is an absolute disgrace. This is money that should be invested into Flintshire’s council housing stock to pay for the improvements that are needed by local people here.”

“Why should we have to hand this money over? This system doesn’t apply in Scotland or Northern Ireland, a review under way in England could see the scheme scrapped there, this would mean that Wales would be the only country in the UK to continue under this unfair system. We are quite simply being ripped off. Why should Wales, which is officially the poorest nation in the UK, be losing money that should be available to local councils to spend on improving their homes? ”

“Unlike the Tories and Labour who have implemented then ignored this injustice, Plaid Cymru have been fighting to get the system changed. Our economic spokesperson Jonathon Edwards MP has been consistently challenging the UK government to review the unfair system and its impacts on the people of Wales.”

“With stock transfer on the agenda here in Flintshire, it is vital that local people are aware of one of the reasons why the council is struggling to improve its housing stock. I would challenge all local politicians to join us in fighting for a fair deal."

LABOUR PLANS PUNISH NEW WELSH BUSINESSES

A Labour MP has been criticised by Plaid Cymru for backing changes in National Insurance that will disadvantage new Welsh businesses.

Delyn MP David Hanson backed his party's amendments to change the existing system, which currently gives new companies in Wales concessions on National Insurance contributions.

Plaid Cymru Assembly candidate for Delyn, Carrie Harper, said: "This is yet another example of London-based Labour not putting the needs of Wales first. Our wellbeing is just not a priority for this party at a time when workers in this part of Wales are losing their jobs and we need to encourage new enterprises."

 "The National Insurance Contributions Bill, which is going through the House of Commons, accepts that new enterprises outside the south east of England need additional help. Although much more needs to be done, we cannot afford to let Labour stand in the way of developing new businesses in Wales."

Jonathon Edwards, Plaid Cymru's economy spokesperson at Westminster, slammed the same old "anti -Welsh Labour party". He stated: "This is a continuation of the flawed policies of the Labour Party, which saw massive growth in the south-east of England at the expense of other parts of the UK.

“Under Labour, there were 10 jobs created in London and the south-east for every single job created in the north and midlands of England. Wales was left even further behind. The UK Government should also support the Welsh Government’s Economic Renewal Plan, launched by Ieuan Wyn Jones last year, by providing the funding for next generation broadband and give Welsh business an international advantage over their competitors."