PORTHMADOG (Hansard, 18 April 1978)

§ Q2. Mr. Wigley
asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to Porthmadog

§ The Prime Minister
I have at present no plans to visit Porthmadog much as I should like to do so.

§ Mr. Wigley
Is the Prime Minister aware that in Porthmadog this winter the unemployment rate has been up to 15 per cent. and has worsened as a result of the Government's regional policies, particularly the withdrawal of REP? Is he further aware that during this period unemployment in Sweden stood at 2.1 per cent., in Austria 1.7 per cent. and in Norway 0.8 per cent.? Will he, therefore, stop peddling the myth that unemployment is a uniform problem in all Western countries?

§ The Prime Minister
I do not think that the hon. Gentleman is comparing like with like. It so happens that the Government's measures have been of great assistance to Wales in the matter of employment, and that includes the investments made by the Welsh Development Agency. It is fair to say, especially on the basis of the results of a by-election last week, that the people of this country understand that the Labour Government are the best party capable of looking after the interests of the unemployed.

§ Mr. Ioan Evans
As well as making his regular visits to South Wales, will my right hon. Friend travel to North Wales and refer the people there to the splendid victory at Garscadden, when nationalism was completely rejected? Will he advise the people of North Wales that, if the problem of unemployment is to be dealt with, it will be done by maintaining the economic and political unity of the people of these islands?

§ The Prime Minister
Yes, I have no doubt about that, and no more has the Labour Party in Wales. If Plaid Cymru insists on independence, it will be rebuffed in Wales as the SNP was at Garscadden.

§ Mr. Wyn Roberts
The people of Wales are very anxious to say "No" in the referendum vote on the Welsh Assembly. Is the Prime Minister aware that there is a danger that we shall not reach today or tomorrow the amendment to the Wales Bill dealing with the 40 per cent. requirement for the referendum which is now in the Scotland Bill?

§ The Prime Minister
If the hon. Gentleman is right that people are anxious to say "No", no doubt we shall have the assistance of himself and all other hon. Members in getting the Bill through so that the people may take full advantage of the opportunity to do so.