§ 4. Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Wales how many new jobs for men were created in the Shotton exchange area in 1972 and to date this year, respectively.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasIn 1972, projects approved in the Shotton travel-to-work area promised about 360 male jobs; no firm figures are as yet available for 1973.
§ Mr. JonesThat is alarmingly minute. Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman agree that to attract more jobs into East Flintshire it will be necessary to improve road communications? In that area there are frustrating traffic jams almost every day. Is not the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that residents, workers and tourists are suffering from maddening delays at Queen's Ferry? Will he give a firm guarantee that no economy axe will fall upon the project at the Queen's Ferry roundabout? Surely he agrees that that is the root of Deeside's traffic jam problems.
§ Mr. ThomasI fully accept the importance of good road communications if jobs are to be attracted. I have no doubt that that matter will feature in the task force report which the hon. Gentleman knows is in process of being finalised. I am sure he will welcome what is being done already in Flintshire. There is a major improvement of the A550 at Drome Corner, which is in the firm programme. In England the recent proposals to extend the M56 westwards will benefit North-East Wales. The hon. Gentleman will know that consulting engineers are now carrying out a feasibility study for an improvement scheme at the Queen's Ferry roundabout. We must await the result of that study.