§ 3. Mr. Probertasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will initiate a special study of the social and industrial requirements of the valley communities of South Wales and the cost of meeting those requirements.
§ The Minister of State, Welsh Office (Mrs. Eirene White)My right hon. Friend does not think that any special study is required. The Government have these matters under continuous review.
§ Mr. ProbertIs my hon. Friend aware that a study of this kind is absolutely necessary, particularly at the present time, and would be of far greater use for the improvement and maintenance of, in many cases, the existing thriving valley communities?
§ Mrs. WhiteI am sure that my hon. Friend appreciates that the needs of the valley communities are very much in the mind of my right hon. Friend and his Ministerial colleagues. We have, of course, studied the problems of the valley towns in "Wales: The Way Ahead". We are in touch with the university colleges which are making studies into special aspects, and the Welsh Council is also studying this aspect.
§ Mr. Alec JonesDoes not my right hon. Friend agree that some valley communities, such as the Rhondda, have had a surfeit of such investigations, and that what we need now is action and some money to enable us to meet the requirements which are well known?
§ Mrs. WhiteI am sure my hon. Friend recognises that we are taking action in 5 certain very important matters, for example the clearance of derelict land and the improvement of housing.