HC Deb 02 February 1981 vol 998 cc10-1
10. Mr. Hudson Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he has completed his consideration of the cases presented to him in August by the Heads of the Valleys Standing Conference that the valleys of South Wales should be urgently provided with special Government assistance; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Nicholas Edwards

I discussed the position with representatives of the conference last August. That was followed up in a detailed reply in October, and I shall be meeting the representatives again on 9 February.

Mr. Hudson Davies

Will the Secretary of State give an assurance that on 9 February he will have some positive measures to offer, rather than a bland dismissal of the problem, bearing in mind that exactly six months have passed since this case was presented to him as urgent? Further, will he give an assurance that he will dissociate himself from the assertion by the Under-Secretary of State at the end of the debate on Welsh affairs that the problems of the valleys were merely Celtic gloom, as expressed by Labour Members, and that they should not be made public lest that should affect the viability of the valleys? Will he take into account the fact that that is widely viewed and interpreted as an attempt to cover up the Government's failure to tackle the problems of the Welsh valleys?

Mr. Ewards

Once again the hon. Gentleman finds nothing good to say about what is available and about the best hope for the valleys. I do not in any way criticise my hon. Friend for the admirable speech that he made on that occasion. He emphasised that the image of Wales is critical if we are to attract new jobs there. At present, a considerable number of factory units are available in the valleys, and I am glad to say that allocations in 1980 continued at a similar level to the very high achievements of 1979.

Sir Anthony Meyer

Will my right hon. Friend make it plain that the prosperity that will return as a result of the Government sticking to their policies will not be permitted to bypass the areas that have been hardest hit by the recession?

Mr. Edwards

That is why we are concentrating substantial regional aid on the areas that are worst affected, including the parts of Wales that are covered in this question, and why we are devoting a good part of the resources of the Welsh Development Agency to ensuring that there are good sites and factories available in those locations. Incidentally, it is also why we are pressing on with the Raglan-Abergavenny link road, which is crucial to providing improved access.

Mr. Alec Jones

Does the Secretary of State understand why Labour Members were particularly distressed and concerned to hear the Secretary of State for Energy talk about areas of this country being bypassed? Is he not aware that the valley communities were bypassed by the Conservative Government on many occasions? Does the Secretary of State not appreciate that many of the valleys in Gwent and Glamorgan are still heavily dependent upon the coal industry? He said that he supported the Plan for Coal. Does that mean that the Government stand by the production target of 120 million tonnes in that plan? Is he aware that in Welsh terms it is not feasible for the Government to say that they stand by that unless they take action to prevent the mmaking of further contracts for importing coking coal and cut the existing level of imports, even if that means Government subsidies?

Mr. Edwards

The Government recognise that the modernisation of the coal industry and the development of the major new fields that is taking place will, inevitably, mean the closure of some of the older, uneconomic pits. Undoubtedly some pits will have to close, but I hope that that will not be on the scale that was suffered under the Labour Government.