§ 34. Lady Megan Lloyd Georgeasked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what action he is taking to bring new industries into Wales.
§ Mr. HeathI shall continue to make all possible use of my powers under the Local Employment Acts to encourage industrial development in those development districts in Wales in which the full powers of the Acts apply. As the noble Lady is aware, my Department is building advance factories in Portmadoc, Bethesda and Milford Haven.
§ Lady Megan Lloyd GeorgeAs the unemployment figures for Wales are still almost double the national average and in certain areas the percentages are as high as 10 per cent. and 11 per cent., will the Secretary of State give an assurance that the development plan for Wales will be expedited?
§ Mr. HeathI do not know whether I misheard the noble Lady, but the figure for Wales as a whole is not, of course, twice the national average.
§ Lady Megan Lloyd GeorgeI said "almost double".
§ Mr. HeathIn November, the unemployment rate was 3 per cent. compared with 2 per cent. in Great Britain. This does not alter the fact that in some development districts there are pockets of high unemployment, and we shall do everything possible to get industry to them.
§ Mr. JayWhile the right hon. Gentleman is pursuing his policy of growth zones, how can he justify having no growth zone anywhere in Wales, and when does he propose to establish one?
§ Mr. HeathWe discussed this in the Welsh Grand Committee yesterday morning. Studies are being made in Wales in five different groups. For South Wales there has been a great accession of industry and other areas we shall deal with under the Local Employment Acts.
§ Mr. CallaghanHas there been any change since yesterday morning? Has the Minister seen the reports that as a result of criticism about the delay in publishing his plans for 1965–66 they are to be advanced by 12 months? Is this so, or are we still to wait till 1965 for them?