§ 27. Mr. Elystan Morganasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give further consideration to the designation of more towns in Mid-Wales under the New Towns Act, 1965.
§ Mr. Gibson-WattI keep this matter under continuous review, but have no immediate plans for designating other new towns in Mid-Wales.
§ Mr. MorganWill the hon. Gentleman accept that a very substantial body of opinion in Mid-Wales—people of all shades of political views—believe that the only way in which the economic debilities of Mid-Wales can be overcome is by the injection of substantial finance from the central Government? Since under the present machinery it would appear that the only available source of finance is that provided under the New Towns Act, 1965, will he give urgent consideration to the adoption of new towns for development within that scheme?
§ Mr. Gibson-WattI have noted with satisfaction the progress made in the new town; indeed its population has increased by several hundreds. A good deal has been achieved in other growth towns in Mid-Wales. For example, in Welshpool and Llandrindod there has been a marked 618 increase in population without the assistance of a new town development corporation.
§ Mr. HoosonMay I reinforce what has been said by the hon. Member for Cardigan (Mr. Elystan Morgan) and ask what steps the Government have taken to implement the growth towns policy—a policy which they proclaimed they would implement two years ago?
§ Mr. Gibson-WattThere is a review in progress on the subject of Newtown. It is well advanced and should be substantially completed this year.