Llantrisant New Town

HC Deb 21 January 1974 vol 867 cc1179-80

6. Mr. Probert

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will make a statement on the proposed Llantrisant new town.

Mr. Peter Thomas

I expect to announce my decision soon.

Mr. Probert

In view of the tragic cuts in public expenditure announced by the Government, some effects of which have been referred to in previous Questions, would it not be much better for the people of Wales if the expenditure which will be required for the starting of this proposed new town were to be allocated to local authorities to overcome some of those effects, and certainly if some of it were to be allocated to meet much-needed improvements in the valley communities?

Mr. Thomas

The hon. Gentleman will not expect me to make any comment on this matter in advance of a decision being announced.

Mr. John

Is not the failure to make a decision on this and related matters of the sewage works and the line of the M4 becoming a public scandal? Does not the right hon. and learned Gentleman realise that sewerage facilities in the Llantrisant area are grossly inadequate to cover the amount of housing which has been built and the amount of industry which has moved into the area? Will he accelerate a decision on this matter?

Mr. Thomas

I shall be announcing my decision on the proposed sewage disposal works as soon as possible. My decision will probably coincide with the decision on the Llantrisant scheme.

Mr. Rowlands

As the Secretary of State has used the word "soon" so many times, will he tell us how soon is "soon"? He has been sitting on this report for many months. Although he will not disclose the conclusions of the report, will he say, when the public expenditure figures for 1976 are published, what amounts of money will be included for the new town? Did he assume that it would never be built?

Mr. Thomas

I assure the hon. Gentleman that by "soon" I meant soon. I hope to make an announcement within the next fortnight.

Sir R. Gower

Reverting to an earlier Question, may I ask whether it is not a fact that the sorts of aid and grants available under the new town procedure are not readily made available in the same part of the country under alternative forms of grant?

Mr. Thomas

My hon. Friend is, as he so often is, absolutely right. Right hon. and hon. Members opposite quite clearly have failed to appreciate exactly what finance was proposed for the setting up of the new town. A very large amount of this would be private finance.