HC Deb 16 July 1990 vol 176 cc672-3
11. Mr. Stern

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will commission a survey of incomes in the border counties of Wales.

Mr. David Hunt

No, Sir. There is already sufficient information available in the new earnings survey details.

Mr. Stern

I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for that reply. Does he agree that the earnings survey details show a remarkable convergence in average incomes between counties on both sides of the Welsh border? In the light of that, does he agree that there might well be a case for looking again at the economic, financial and other incentives available to individuals and businesses for moving to the Welsh side of the border?

Mr. Hunt

In Avon, the relevant figure, which we were comparing before, is £241.30, and in Gloucestershire it is £230.10, as opposed to a figure in Gwent of £212.20. Therefore, I do not accept my hon. Friend's initial premise.

Dr. Thomas

Will the Secretary of State give us an assurance that, as regards Mid-Wales, the activities of the Development Board for Rural Wales will be as fully supported during his tenure as Secretary of State as they were under previous Administrations? Will he ensure that there are sufficient resources for the board's economic and social programme, in view of the potential competition from over the border in Telford?

Mr. Hunt

As it happens, I was in the hon. Gentleman's constituency yesterday with the chairman of the Development Board for Rural Wales, Mr. Glyn Davies, and I was able to reassure him once again of the importance that I attach to the work of the board, and my strong commitment to its future work.

Mr. Dickens

When my right hon. Friend answered an earlier question on incomes in Wales, which related closely to this question, he gave an undertaking to the House that his first priority was to improve the quality of life for the people of Wales. We all know that, once he was appointed by the Prime Minister, the House had a good Secretary of State for Wales. If he says that he intends to improve the quality of life in Wales, he will certainly do so.

Mr. Hunt

I thank my hon. Friend.