§ 8. Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the chairman of the Welsh Development Agency concerning his inward investment mission to Japan, Australia and the United States of America.
§ Sir Wyn RobertsMy right hon. Friend has frequent meetings with the chairman of the Welsh Development Agency to discuss a range of matters, including inward investment.
§ Mr. MorganI thank the Minister of State for his somewhat opaque reply. Will he be a little more precise? Has he discussed the value for money which the chairman of the Welsh Development Agency thinks he got out of the £28,000 worth of taxpayers' money that was spent on the recent mission, which finished on 17 November? That mission involved two executives of the agency travelling around the world, including the chairman, and Mr. Shimon Cohen from Lowe Bell—the most expensive bag carrier in history, whose participation in the trip cost £7,500 and who has no specialised knowledge of industrial development. What proposals does the Minister have to 11 obtain greater value for money from such round-the-world missions, particularly as the second half of this one was cancelled?
§ Sir Wyn RobertsI am surprised to hear such talk from an Opposition Front-Bench spokesman. He should realise that one cannot judge the value of an inward investment mission immediately afterwards. It often takes years before the results can be fully quantified. I have listened to the hon. Gentleman speak on this subject and he has made many mistakes in his statements and allegations of impropriety. He gives me the impression of being like Dennis the Menace's dog, Gnasher, who goes for anyone's ankles. My more refined hon. Friends may wish to compare him with Bildad the Shuhite, who was one of Job's most cruel comforters.
§ Mr. Win GriffithsThe purpose of the mission's visit abroad was obviously to obtain more jobs in Wales. Does the Minister realise that, although my constituency is one of the wealthier Welsh constituencies, 17 people are looking for jobs for each vacancy listed in unemployment centres there? Does the Minister expect that in the next six months there will be fewer or even more people looking for jobs?
§ Sir Wyn RobertsThe hon. Gentleman represents Bridgend which, with Sony, has one of the most attractive inward investments in Wales. He will know that we have had a record number of inward investment projects. There were 142 last year and 165 up to October this year. There were 69 overseas projects in 1990–91 and this year there have already been 59. Those 69 overseas projects were secured with the promise of 8,500 jobs and the 59 projects promised 9,000 jobs. As the hon. Gentleman heard from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, unemployment fell last month, so on unemployment, we look forward optimistically to the future.