HC Deb 29 March 1971 vol 814 cc1144-5
23. Mr. Kinnock

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with local authorities on the subject of promoting industrial growth in Wales.

Mr. Peter Thomas

Industry and employment questions have been raised at nearly all the meetings I have had with local authorities or their representatives since I took office.

Mr. Kinnock

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that this brings no puzzlement to hon. Members on this side of the House, since, in answer to a Question by my right hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, West (Mr. George Thomas) earlier this month, we were told that, in response to a request for help from the large projects pool, local authorities received £2,195,000 instead of the £10,468,000 which they had requested? On the basis of such figures, how can anyone be expected to give credibility to the claim that the Government have made that they would improve the infrastructure of Wales?

Mr. Peter Thomas

The hon. Gentleman will know that a large number of the applications to be included in the large projects pool have been agreed.

Mr. William Edwards

Could the right hon. and learned Gentleman publish and circulate to local authorities a paper on the exact functions that he performs in relation to industrial development in Wales? Is it not a fact that he has no responsibility for the allocation of advance factories? Is it not the case that he has very few facilities within his Department to obtain proper advice about the industrial state of Wales, and that he has now given up intervening in any Government decision which is adverse to Wales?

Mr. Peter Thomas

The hon. Gentleman knows that the last part of his supplementary question is untrue. I have my responsibilities in so far as many of the matters to which he has referred are responsibilities of overall functioning. When my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry is doing something in relation to Wales he always lets me know and takes my views into account. It is true that I have no executive functions; neither did the right hon. Member for Cardiff, West (Mr. George Thomas) when he was in office. But there is no doubt that the Welsh Office is very much concerned with all matters relating to unemployment and growth opportunity in Wales.