HC Deb 19 May 1975 vol 892 cc983-5
1. Mr. Ioan Evans

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received regarding the Welsh Development Agency Bill.

The Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. John Morris)

One from the Wales TUC emphasising the importance to Wales of the proposals for a development agency and regretting the delaying tactics adopted by some hon. Members opposite.

Mr. Evans

Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that the Welsh Council has also regretted possible manœuvres to delay the passage of the Bill? Will he give us some assurance—now that the Bill is being dealt with in another place—that we shall try to get it on to the statute book as soon as possible, because there is great resentment in Wales that it should be subject to a party manœuvre in this House due to the shortage of parliamentary time?

Mr. Morris

In my view there is a nearly unanimous welcome in Wales for this important Bill. Having regard to the urgency of the situation and the problems facing us in Wales, it is imperative that the Bill receives Royal Assent at the earliest possible opportunity.

Mr. Nicholas Edwards

Will the Secretary of State State find time to debate the Bill on the Floor of the House after the Whitsun Recess? Does he intend to make the development agency subordinate to the proposed Assembly, and to surrender to the Assembly some of the extensive powers that are given to him under the Bill?

Mr. Morris

The question of allocating time for the Bill to be debated on the Floor of the House is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House, but I am sure that he will do what he can to satisfy Conservative Members. Perhaps the hon. Member for Pembroke (Mr. Edwards) can assure me that we can get the Bill by the end of July, taking into account the time that he and his colleagues will require to debate issues properly in Committee. That is my aim. The functions of the Assembly will be announced much later.

Mr. Geraint Howell

Is it possible for the Minister to tell us how much money, if any, will be forthcoming from EEC funds during the next few years to help the establishment of the Welsh Development Agency?

Mr. Morris

I am sure that there are other Questions on the Order Paper on this subject. We in Wales shall not be backward in ensuring that we get the moneys due to us from EEC funds.

Mr. Wigley

Is the Secretary of State aware of the absolute scorn in Wales at the hypocrisy of the Conservative Party in advocating more powers for the Welsh Grand Committee yet obstructing this important Bill going there? Is he aware that not only the trade unions but the CBI in Wales and the development corporations support this agency coming to fruition? Will he give an assurance that, if the Bill can be got through this Session, it will come into operation at an early date in the next few months?

Mr. Morris

The hon. Gentleman is completely right to refer to the scorn which is manifest from one end of the Principality of Wales to the other concerning the activities of Conservative Members. It is obvious to all hon. Members that belatedly the Conservatives have recognised that they are in a tiny minority in Wales opposed to the Bill. I am still waiting for the assurance that I shall get my Bill by the end of July. I assure the hon. Member for Caernarvon (Mr. Wigley) that it will be our wish to get—[Interruption.] I wish that the hon. Member for Yarmouth (Mr. Fell) would pipe down. It is our wish to get the Bill into operation at the earliest possible time.

Mr. Fell

How is it possible for the right hon. and learned Gentleman to be so ignorant of the procedures of the House as to ask my hon. Friend the Member for Pembroke (Mr. Edwards) for an assurance that the Conservative Party will allow the Bill to go through before a certain time? It is pure ignorance.

Mr. Morris

The hon. Gentleman can never teach any hon. Member the quality of ignorance or talk about pomposity. He knows nothing. — [Interruption.] I hope that the hon. Gentleman will contain himself. He is irrepressible.

Mr. Speaker

Order. I hope that we can get on and not have these personal exchanges.

Mr. Morris

The hon. Gentleman knows nothing of the delaying tactics of his hon. Friends over a Bill that is regarded in Wales as being of the utmost importance.

Back to