§ Q3. Mr. Wigleyasked the Prime Minister if she will state when she next intends to visit Wales.
§ The Prime MinisterI hope to visit Wales next month.
§ Mr. WigleyWill the Prime Minister tell the people of Wales how many people will have to go to prison and on hunger protests—or worse—before her Government will carry out their election commitment, included in the Gracious Speech, to give a television channel to the Weish language?
§ The Prime MinisterNo one has to go on a hunger protest. Although there has been a certain threat, I hope that no one will do that. When the new channel comes into being there will be more programmes in Weish. Not all of those programmes will necessarily be on that channel. However, they will be either on that channel or another one.
Mr. loan EvansIn view of the massive closures in the steel industry and the possible consequent closure of six to 12 pits, will she confirm—when she comes to Wales—that those areas that had special development area and development area status will have those titles restored? Is not she aware that as a result of the Government's policies there has been a massive increase in unemployment?
§ The Prime MinisterWe have tended to upgrade the status of an area from a development area to a special development area if that area has experienced a major steel closure. We have rightly obtained a good deal of money from the Exchequer in order to assist those areas. I believe that about £15 million has been found for Shotton and £48 million for South Wales.