§ 15. Mr. Colemanasked the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment his Department has made of the social and industrial consequences of the reorganisation of the steel industry in Wales; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasThese implications were taken fully into account when the Government considered the British Steel Corporation's proposals. The recently appointed task forces will report on the special needs of areas in Wales particularly hard hit by the reorganisation.
§ Mr. ColemanIf these implications were taken fully into account, why is the Secretary of State unable to tell the people in the valleys of Monmouthshire about concrete proposals for bringing in new industry and so preventing an employment famine? Can the right hon. and learned Gentleman say whether, when he was considering the position of Shotton, consideration was given to the effect upon steel-using industries in the North West as a result of creating a steelmaking desert there? Will the right 16 hon. and learned Gentleman look again at this proposal in respect of Shotton?
§ Mr. Peter ThomasIt is interesting that the hon. Member for Neath (Mr. Coleman) should be asking me about Monmouthshire and Shotton. I can assure him that the claims of that area and of Monmouthshire have been put forward effectively and fully in this House. The decision taken by the Government which was announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry took into full account all the social consequences of the BSC's proposals.
§ Mr. George ThomasIs the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that it is thanks to his failure to protect the steel industry in Wales that so many of my right hon. and hon. Friends have to manifest an interest in these areas? Is he further aware that the task force is doing the work that the Government could have done before agreeing to these proposals?
§ Mr. Peter ThomasNot for the first time the right hon. Gentleman is wholly wrong. The interests of Wales in steelmaking have been protected, and an investment of £900 million will be put into the steel industry over the next 10 years. In the Port Talbot area, which is near the constituency of the hon. Member for Neath, steelmaking capacity will be increased from its present 3 million tons to 6 million tons, providing 1,300 new jobs.
§ Mr. ColemanOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the thoroughly disgraceful answers given by the Secretary of State, I beg to give notice that I shall seek to raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible moment.