§ 17. Mr. William Edwardsasked the Secretary of State for Wales what assistance is available from Government resources to Bala Urban District Council to enable it to develop the township of Bala to double its present size.
§ Mr. Gibson-WattBala, being within the development area, benefits from assistance available under the Local Employment Acts.
§ Mr. EdwardsHaving heard the Minister's interesting thesis that it is not his task to differentiate between areas in trying to develop them and bring in new population, may I ask whether it is part of that thesis which is preventing Government assistance to towns like Bala, which the Government have designated as growth points? Is it not cynical of the Government to tell these towns that they should develop, when they cannot afford to do so because they do not have the means to build houses and factories?
§ Mr. Gibson-WattThe lion. Gentleman will be glad to know that arrangements have been made for my right hon. and learned Friend to meet representatives of the Mid-Wales Industrial Development Association shortly and to have full discussions on the problems of town expansion in Mid-Wales.