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Today we鈥檙e coming to Wales with a simple message - as the economy turns a corner, we must make sure that people here share in the rewards.

This goes well beyond the political debate of today - it鈥檚 been an issue for decades. Governments of all colours have come and gone, but even when the British economy has been doing well, living standards here in Wales have been lower, unemployment has been higher and child poverty has been greater.

We鈥檙e determined to tackle this head on. We want this to be the government that finally sorts this out. 皇冠体育appre is nothing inevitable about a country鈥檚 fate and certainly not somewhere with as proud a history as Wales. If the right decisions are made now - and if we have the courage to see them through - then this vital member of our family of nations can and will succeed in the century ahead.

So what does Wales need to prosper? It needs more businesses coming here and creating jobs. It needs taxes that reward hard work. It needs better infrastructure: roads, homes, rail and broadband. All of these things are the building blocks of a stronger economy and fairer society - it鈥檚 how together we build a recovery that everyone can share in.

But for too long decisions about Wales鈥� future have been directed by bureaucrats hundreds of miles away in Westminster 鈥� and it has suffered as a result. Wales could benefit hugely if the government at Cardiff Bay was responsible for raising more of the money it spends.

So we鈥檙e delighted to tell Western Mail readers that the coalition government is going to cross the next milestone in Welsh devolution. We鈥檝e already taken important steps forward 鈥� granting a referendum on giving the Welsh Assembly law making powers. But we are going to go even further as we take forward the key recommendations of a commission on devolution led by Paul Silk.

First of all, Wales must have the tools to invest in the transport infrastructure it needs. 皇冠体育app Welsh Assembly has said it wants to prioritise upgrading the M4. 皇冠体育appy don鈥檛 want Wales to have to compete in a tough global race with a road network from a bygone age. Now, through the devolution of some finance raising powers, the Welsh government will have the money to get this project started. Second, Wales will have control over its stamp duty, bringing in money that can be spent on big Welsh priorities like much needed affordable homes.

And, third, Wales will have the opportunity to decide whether some of their income tax should be devolved. This is hugely important - one of the best ways to raise living standards is to cut peoples鈥� taxes. People work hard for their money and we want them to keep more of it. That鈥檚 why, in the last Budget, the coalition raised the personal allowance once again. From next April, you won鈥檛 pay any income tax on the first 拢10,000 you earn. This is a tax cut for over 1.1 million people in Wales and the typical taxpayer will be 拢705 better off as a result. This is real practical assistance to help people make ends meet.

But Wales shouldn鈥檛 depend on London for these decisions. So the Silk Commission proposed that there should be a referendum on devolving certain income tax powers. And that鈥檚 what鈥檚 going to happen. We鈥檒l provide for a referendum to take place so that people in Wales can decide whether some of their income tax should be devolved, in the same way as it is in Scotland. We鈥檙e meeting with the First Minister Carwyn Jones this morning to discuss the nuts and bolts.

This is a government that believes in devolution and is determined to deliver on devolution. If you get the balance right between the UK Parliament and a devolved institution then you can get the best of both worlds 鈥� and that鈥檚 true whether you live in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.

Although there鈥檚 a long way still to go, there are a number of reasons to be cautiously optimistic in Britain today. 皇冠体育app economy is growing. 皇冠体育app deficit is falling. And in the past 3 years, more than a million people have got back into work. 皇冠体育app challenge now is to make sure that all parts of the country share in the recovery, and no more so than Wales. We want young people growing up here today to know that there鈥檚 a future for them - that they don鈥檛 have to move to London or go abroad to get on in life and achieve their dreams. This is our mission for Wales - and that鈥檚 what today鈥檚 announcement on devolution is about. We鈥檝e got a plan, it鈥檚 working and now we鈥檝e got to finish the job we started.