§ 3. Mr. Goronwy Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will set up for South Caernarvonshire and North Merioneth an organisation similar to the Mid-Wales Industrial Development Association.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasThis is not a matter for me. The initiative to set up the Mid-Wales Industrial Development Association came from the local authorities themselves.
§ Mr. RobertsBut is it not a fact that the Association, which has proved so successful in the Mid-Wales area, has been helped from Government funds, from sums provided in the Welsh Office Estimates? Will not the right hon. and learned Gentleman reconsider his reply, especially as he has overall responsibility for the progress of industry and employment in the Principality and might himself very well take the initiative that he mentions?
§ Mr. ThomasThe right hon. Gentleman is quite correct. The Mid-Wales Industrial Development Association is financed by contributions from the member authorities and an annual grant from the Development Fund. An application for grant for a new body of this kind would need to be considered by the Development Commissioners. It is for the local authorities, or groups of authorities, to consider whether they should establish a promotional body of this sort. Authorities may well wish to consider that after the reorganisation of local government.
§ Mr. RobertsDo I take it from the right hon. and learned Gentleman's reply to my supplementary question that if the local authorities concerned moved in the direction of the Development Commission he would look upon such an application with a kindly eye?
§ Mr. ThomasThe right hon. Gentleman knows that Icould not give a categorical assurance about that, but I am fully aware of the problems in the areas he mentioned, and I should be very anxious to consider, with appreciation 1154 of the difficulties, any applications that any authorities may make.