HC Deb 19 May 1975 vol 892 cc993-4
12. Mr. Wigley

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will pay an official visit to Pwllheli at an early date.

Mr. John Morris

I have no present plans to do so.

Mr. Wigley

If the Secretary of State were to visit Pwllheli he would be made aware of an unemployment rate for men of almost 15 per cent. Is he aware that unemployment has worsened in the past few weeks because of the closure of an engineering factory employing 50 people, a closure which was totally unnecessary and which could have been prevented had the powers of the Welsh Development Agency been in existence? Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman seek to co-operate with his right hon. Friends in the Department of Industry to see whether the Government can intervene to bring this factory back to life and bring vital employment back to an area which is so destitute of it?

Mr. Morris

I am aware of the problems which concern the hon. Gentleman's constituency among others. I do not wish to comment on a particular case, but the hon. Gentleman knows well what has happened recently. I understand that there are a number of interests involved. Should anyone involved in this matter make application to the Department of Industry for selective financial assistance, any such application would be looked at urgently and sympathetically. I am sure the hon. Gentleman will recall that, having regard to the problems in his area, I announced in the Welsh Grand Committee a short time ago the proposed building of two factories of 5,000 sq. ft. at Pwllheli.

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