HC Deb 21 October 1969 vol 788 cc923-4
4. Mr. Gibson-Watt

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with interested parties about the future of the Welsh Rural Development Board.

Mr. George Thomas

There have been no recent discussions. The statutory period for objections to the modified boundary has only recently expired, and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and I are considering the next step. It will of course be for the House to decide the future of the proposed Board when the draft Order is laid.

Mr. Gibson-Watt

Might I take the opportunity from these benches to congratuate the hon. Member for Cardiff, North (Mr. E. Rowlands) on his elevation to the Welsh Office, and to wish him luck. At the same time, we are sorry to see the going of the hon. Member for Gower (Mr. Ifor Davies) who was in that office for three years.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware now, some time after the inquiry under the chairmanship of Sir Ben Bowen Thomas, that there is still in Central Wales an immense amount of anxiety about and opposition to the idea of this Board As it is estimated that well over 80 per cent. of the people in this area are objectors, will the Government think again about this?

Mr. Thomas

I much appreciate, as I know my hon. Friend does, the complimentary remarks made by the hon. Gentleman to the new Under-Secretary and to my former colleague my hon. Friend the Member for Gower (Mr. Ifor Davies).

I am aware that there are people in Mid-Wales with a vested interest in misrepresenting the Rural Development Board. I know that this has been done for political reasons. Half a million £s will go into the pockets of the farmers of Mid-Wales when this scheme is running fully.

Mr. Gibson-Watt

Will not the Minister face the fact that in the four counties concerned there is intense opposition which has not been engendered from a party political point of view, and that it is about time that his party realised that this is a matter which is causing great local concern in Mid-Wales?

Mr. Thomas

My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State at the Home Department is the Member of Parliament for this constituency. He is well-informed about opinion there, as I am. I believe that this scheme will be welcomed by the farmers when they realise the great benefits which it brings to them.