§ Q4. Sir A. Meyerasked the Prime Minister when he next proposes to visit Wales.
§ The Prime MinisterI hope to do so on 15th March, Sir.
§ Sir A. MeyerWhen the right hon. Gentleman visits Wales, will he take the opportunity to talk to a number of ordinary people and find out what they think about the proposals for an elected Welsh Assembly? Will he find out their views on how much this expensive nonsense will add to their bills as ratepayers and taxpayers?
§ The Prime MinisterI note what the hon. Member says. He will be aware that our consultative document published last summer was the subject of the most detailed consultations with all organisations in Wales—including the people he no doubt has in mind—and that the White Paper we produced and the ideas put forward in the debate by Ministers exactly reflect the consensus expressed in Wales.
§ Mr. D. E. ThomasWhen the Prime Minister visits Wales, will he visit the steel workers there? Will he explain to them, particularly those in Ebbw Vale, why the Government's redundancy strategy in the report made by the Minister of State, did not include a basic reassessment of the BSC steel strategy? Will he undertake that an investment of £600,000 will be made ready for Ebbw Vale to reline the blast furnaces before there is any further talk of rundown?
§ The Prime MinisterThe hon. Member for Flint, West (Sir A. Meyer) was forthcoming in welcoming the statement made by my right hon. Friend, which affected other areas in Wales and which provides more employment in Shotton, contrary to what the previous Government were proposing some little time ago. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for 1110 Employment could answer the question about Ebbw Vale much better than I. It is an extremely difficult problem, going back into history. We are concerned to ensure employment for those working in Ebbw Vale. We believe in the immense power of the British Steel Corporation and the possibility of joint ventures with other employers. This is a problem that can be solved.
§ Mr. KinnockWill my right hon. Friend accept from someone who was born in the Ebbw Vale constituency, who worked in the Ebbw Vale Steelworks for two years and whose father worked there for 27 years until his death, that the interests of the Ebbw Vale steelworkers and the Monmouthshire valleys will not be served by populist, instant answers like those proffered by Plaid Cymru, which seeks to gain a few cheap votes out of the disaster and agony of the men and women of South Wales and Ebbw Vale in particular?
§ The Prime MinisterMy hon. Friend is right. The people of Ebbw Vale know that since 1929 they have had two superb representatives in this House, and they have had and have full confidence in them.
§ Mr. HoosonIs the Prime Minister aware that the great concern in Wales is over the tremendous increase in the cost of local government due to the Local Government Act passed by the Conservative Government? Is he prepared to look again at the proposals for a Welsh Assembly, with a view to doing away with one tier of local government before we have this Assembly in Wales?
§ The Prime MinisterThe hon. and learned Gentleman is right. The reform, or whatever it was, or the restructuring of local government by the previous Conservative Government was a disaster not only for Wales but for other parts of the country. It is less democratic, particularly in regard to many aspects of Welsh affairs—one thinks of water as an example—and it is highly costly. We are all bearing the cost of it. We shall look at these matters, but I cannot give any assurance now about what changes will be made. We think that it was done incorrectly last time, and we shall be looking for reforms.