HC Deb 31 January 1972 vol 830 cc6-7
6. Mr. John

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to write his next article in a Welsh newspaper in his official capacity.

Mr. Peter Thomas

I am always ready to consider requests from editors of Welsh newspapers to contribute articles.

Mr. John

In the next article which he writes, will the right hon. and learned Gentleman leave aside the brainless bromides which normally litter his efforts and tell the 56,000 unemployed Welsh people when they may expect jobs, why new job creation is down to one-third of its 1971 level and why the Chancellor of the Exchequer's miracle, which the Secretary of State was proclaiming in November, 1970, would happen "any week now", has not happened?

Mr. Thomas

The hon. Gentleman will appreciate the many measures taken by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1971 involving massive reflationary activity—

Mr. John Morris

Mr. Micawber

Mr. Thomas

I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on the alliterative nature of his well-prepared supplementary question. I do not intend to be complacent about the situation, but the question which I was asked concerned articles in newspapers. The key to prosperity is industrial confidence, and it is essential to say loud and clear—hon. Members opposite refrain from saying it—that the outlook in terms of production and sales is brighter now than it has been for a long time.

Sir A. Meyer

Does my right hon. and learned Friend agree that the two great Welsh newspapers would be a great deal more readable if they were not half filled with the turgid outpourings of the right hon. Member for Cardiff, West (Mr. George Thomas)?

Mr. Thomas

Yes, Sir

Mr. Fred Evans

In his next article, will the Secretary of State explain to the people of Wales why the cheerful optimism that things were on the upturn is at variance with the recent survey undertaken by major industrialists who foresee no great expansion in employment and production in their industries?

Mr. Thomas

The major industrialists forecast at the beginning of this year that 1972 would be a year of growth.

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