A welcome difference in the Valleys.

Presents an attempt by the author to test the theory put forward by Leader of the House of Commons Peter Hain that the success of the Labour government lies in having made small improvements to people's lives, by visiting Hain's constituency of Neath, West Glamorgan. Visit to the Neath Port Talbot Hospital, which runs over budget and has trouble recruiting staff; Issues in the community, including the building of a secure young-offenders centre and an electricity power station; Concerns about the environmental consequences of a coal-burning station and about having delinquent youths in the area; Attempts to encourage entrepreneurship; Comments by local people on what the Blair government has done for them; Change in the political weather.