HC Deb 30 January 1969 vol 776 cc1499-500
7 and 8. Mr. Gower

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what steps he is taking to encourage more transfers into Wales of parts of the administration of various Government Departments and State boards; and to what extent he will encourage such transfers to Cardiff, Swansea, Newport and Barry, respectively;

(2) whether, in view of the fact that the exclusion of Barry and district from the Welsh Development Area hinders efforts being made to promote industrial expansion at Barry, he will take steps to ensure that Barry shall have a reasonable share of office employment created by future transfers into Wales of parts of the administration of Government Departments and State boards.

Mrs. White

Since 1964 a number of important decisions have been taken to locate Government establishments in South Wales. The jobs which will arise in Cardiff as a result of these decisions will be open to Barry residents since Barry is in the Cardiff travel-to-work area. In reaching decisions on the dispersal of Government offices the needs of Wales, including Barry, will continue to be taken into account, along with the needs of the rest of the country.

Mr. Gower

Owing to the development area policy making it difficult for new industries to be brought to the Barry, Cardiff and Newport areas, and causing some firms to consider leaving these areas, will the hon. Lady take doubly into account the great necessity of bringing alternative employment to these areas, perhaps in the form of office employment?

Mrs. White

As the hon. Member will be aware, the fact that Newport and Cardiff are not development areas has not precluded the siting there of very important and large Government offices.

Mr. Roy Hughes

Does my hon. Friend appreciate that the people of South Wales realise that it is only since this Government have been in office that these measures of devolution have been encouraged—especially in Newport? We are very grateful for the decision to site the Census Office there, which, when completed, will employ about 2,000 people.

Mrs. White

We are very glad to have some signs of appreciation. As my right hon. Friend made clear when he replied not long ago to my hon. Friend the Member for Brecon and Radnor (Mr. Tudor Watkins), a large dispersal of Government establishments is contemplated to South Wales.

Mr. Gibson-Watt

With respect to the hon. Lady, she has not answered the question that my hon. Friend put. Whatever the past may have been under this Government or any other Government, can she say what steps the Secretary of State is taking to encourage more transfers to South Wales, especially with regard to what he has lately said about the drawing of industry into the development areas?

Mrs. White

We are always on the lookout for possible fresh dispersal to Wales. One cannot say precisely what until the decisions have been taken, but a number of decisions have been made and also announced.

Mr. Anderson

May I ask my hon. Friend not to neglect the claims of Cwmbran, where office development in that case would be as a result of public investment?

Mrs. White

We are well aware of the desire for more office development in Cwmbran and are carefully considering it.