HC Deb 21 November 1983 vol 49 cc7-8
8. Mr. Roy Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what further discussions have been held concerning regional aid for Wales: what was the outcome; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Nicholas Edwards

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry will shortly be publishing a White Paper on future regional policy.

Mr. Hughes

Does the Secretary of State recognise that if there is any deterioration in the position of south Wales compared with the south west, the midlands and the south east of England, that, together with all the difficulties over the Severn bridge, will turn south Wales into a twilight area? If the right hon. Gentleman cannot win the argument with his Cabinet colleagues on these basic issues, why does he not resign? At least then the people of Wales would realise that he had tried.

Mr. Edwards

One of the reasons why these discussions about regional policy are taking place is that people in the west midlands and other parts of England have been complaining strongly that south Wales has been doing rather well. One of the things that we shall be discussing in the White Paper is the whole range of regional policies, as they are applied, and all the proposals and suggestions being put forward by the trade unions and others about the ways in which they can be improved. I assure the hon. Gentleman that the White Paper will not contain proposals for altering the balance between regions. The White Paper will cover a wide range of proposals and there will be a long period of consultation before we get to decisions on it.

Mr. James Callaghan

The Secretary of State will be aware of the strenuous efforts being made to reverse the decision to close the Rover works at Cardiff with the loss of about 600 jobs. As part of regional policy, if that should occur, will the right hon. Gentleman look favourably on the proposals being put forward by a consortium in Glamorgan and south Wales for the establishment of a free port in Cardiff, which could provide at least some extra jobs?

Mr. Edwards

The loss of jobs at Rover will be a severe blow to Cardiff and to the right hon. Gentleman's constituency. I assure him that the most careful consideration is being given to the proposals for free ports, including the one from Cardiff, but we are still at an early stage in our consideration of the free port proposals. I think the right hon. Gentleman will agree that the redevelopment of south Cardiff, on which I am working closely with the local authorities concerned on the basis of the initiative that I announced last February, will also help to provide new jobs and better opportunities in Cardiff.

Mr. Harvey

Will my right hon. Friend ensure that any changes that are made are not carried out in the brutal, vicious and sudden way that the Labour Government withdrew the regional employment premium in 1976?

Mr. Edwards

We are entering a considerable period of consultation based on a White Paper on subjects that have already been discussed by the NEDC and other bodies. The Government have no intention of removing an important regional aid overnight without warning, which is what the Labour Government did.