§ 1. Mr. Martyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any further proposals to replace jobs lost on the closure of the North Wales hospital, Denbigh.
§ The Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. David Hunt)No final decision has been made about the closure of the North Wales hospital at Denbigh.
§ Mr. JonesI was given to understand that the time scale had shortened dramatically for the closure of the hospital. In the light of that, and in the light of the overall recession and a recent statement by the chairman of the Wales tourist board that 95,000 jobs are likely to go in the tourist industry, which is a majority alternative source of employment for those who will lose their jobs at the North Wales hospital, what does the Secretary of State plan to do to replace the jobs that will be lost in a shortened time scale?
§ Mr. HuntThere were two aspects to the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question. First, I am glad that I have been able to reassure the hon. Gentleman about the present position regarding the North Wales hospital. Secondly, Denbigh is a designated action area under the Welsh Development Agency's rural prosperity programme and I have announced extra funds for the rural initiative. I hope that we shall see increasing job opportunities in and around the Denbigh area.