§ 20. Mr. Elystan Morganasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he remains satisfied with the progress of the Welsh economy since June, 1970; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasI am never satisfied but present trends, in Wales as elsewhere, are encouraging.
§ Mr. MorganWhether or not the Secretary of State is satisfied, does he agree that there do not seem to be any bounds to his complacency? Nothing that he has said at the Dispatch Box during the last two years suggests that he appreciates the gravity of the situation which has led to unemployment in Wales being 50 per cent. higher than it was in June, 1970, and to 38,000 redundancies in two years, which is about three times the number of new jobs created in Wales in that period. Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman realise that for us on this side of the House the acid test of his sincerity in this matter is his willingness to prepare a development plan to meet the needs of Wales and not to repose in windy banalities?
§ Mr. ThomasIt is untrue to suggest that I am complacent. I have frequently told right hon. and hon. Gentlemen opposite, both in the House and in the Welsh Grand Committee, about the difficulties that we are facing and have faced. Unemployment in Wales is, of course, still too high, but I see no reason why we should be pessimistic because, looking back over the last three months as a whole, there has been a marked improvement.