§ 8. Mr. Roy Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will pay an official visit to Newport.
§ Mr. John MorrisI have no immediate plans for doing so, Sir.
§ Mr. HughesWith 4, 000 families on the waiting list, plus massive redevelopment problems, Newport has become the housing black spot of Wales. Bearing in mind that the Secretary of State has now been in office for nearly two years, is it not time that he paid us an official visit?
§ Mr. MorrisI am deeply aware of the acute housing problems not only in my hon. Friend's constituency but in other parts of Wales. If he is suggesting that I have not been to Newport or Gwent, I remind him that I have paid three visits to Newport, on two of which I had the pleasure of his company. There have been six ministerial visits by Welsh Office Ministers to Newport and there have been 21 other ministerial visits to the county of Gwent and several by myself.