§ 22. Mr. Elystan Morganasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied with the amount of light industry which has come into West Wales during the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasNo, Sir. I want to see a higher level of light industry in West Wales. The Government will continue to make every effort to bring this area to the attention of industrialists seeking suitable locations.
§ Mr. MorganDoes the Secretary of State appreciate that the people of West Wales will not be impressed at all by such sweet words, and that the substitution of investment allowances for investment grants is of no use to them at all since most of the firms are small and do not make profits in the early years?
§ Mr. Peter ThomasI agree that only one new project was secured in the last 12 months, and in the previous 12 months, apart from the new refinery at Milford Haven, there was also only one new project. Work will start, as the hon. Gentleman knows, next month on an advance factory at Fishguard. A little later on—I cannot yet give the date-work will start on building an advance factory at Aberystwyth, and in late summer nursery advance factories will be started at Lampeter. Approval was given by me in May for a cluster of factories in Cardigan.