Recently we celebrated ten years of devolution in Wales, and what a change we've seen during the last decade. Devolution has had a positive impact on our nation and has resulted in Wales and its people growing in confidence. The people of Wales now have an appetite to create policies and make important decisions in Wales. We are also seeing a new openness in the way government is run as devolution has moved politics closer to the people in our communities. Before devolution Welsh issues were only discussed for half an hour every few weeks in London. Now Wales has become the focus of our politicians as Assembly Members concentrate on issues affecting Wales.

Indeed, there have been problems, especially in the early years with consecutive Labour governments failing to fulfil the potential that devolution has offered. There is no doubt that they have been too distracted by what is happening in England and with what their own party in London is telling them. But let's move on from that and look forward to what we can achieve in the future, in the next ten years rather than the last. With Plaid Cymru in government, we have seen a change of attitude within Wales’ government. Plaid has a vision for the future of Wales and for the future of the Welsh economy. Our vision is a Welsh one because we don't have anybody in London telling us what to do; we are solely accountable to the people of Wales.

The economy is undoubtedly the most pressing issue that we face today. In the recent budget the London Labour Government cut nearly £500 million from Wales’ budget next year and these cuts will certainly have a big effect on services in our communities. The cuts are of course also undermining our efforts to close the gap between rich and poor in Wales.

But there is so much more we can achieve. We have already achieved a great deal with the limited powers we currently have. Since Plaid has been in government we have seen important changes and decisions being made. We promised that our first act would be to stop the disastrous hospital closure and downgrade programme which included Withybush Hospital and these plans were suspended as a result of having Plaid Ministers in the Cabinet. We also gave nurses their full pay award and provided millions for a mortgage rescue scheme to help those struggling to keep their homes. We have developed so much as a country in the last ten years but with increased powers there is so much more we can achieve as a nation.