§ 3. Mr. DafisTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to seek objective I status for Wales, or parts of Wales, under the structural funds of the European Community.
§ The Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. David Hunt)May I also add my words of congratulation to the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Davies)? I think that I am the third Secretary of State for Wales in 13 years and he is the third shadow spokesman in 13 weeks, but I wish him well for many years to come as Opposition spokesman on Wales.
On question 3, I shall of course be submitting to the EC proposals to secure the maximum support for Wales from the structural funds.
§ Mr. DafisI am sure that the Secretary of State recognises, or at least I hope that he recognises, the immense importance of strengthening the structural funds —the only hope for a vigorous regional policy in Wales. Is he willing to undertake to attend the Edinburgh summit 4 and represent Welsh interests directly and specifically in talks about the importance of the structural funds for the development of the Welsh economy?
§ Mr. HuntSo far as the Edinburgh summit is concerned, of course we work through our colleagues in the normal way, but I will personally undertake to do everything possible to secure the maximum possible support for Wales under the structural funds. As the hon. Gentleman knows, such matters are governed by the nomenclature for territorial statistical units, which is known affectionately in the Community as NUTS, and the NUTS classification is very important. Notwithstanding that, I will do my best to secure the maximum resources for Wales.
§ Mr. Jonathan EvansWill my right hon. Friend, in putting together his submission in support of aid under the structural funds, draw specific attention to the survey that was published in the Financial Times on 12 November, confirming the excellent record that has been achieved by the Welsh Office in ensuring that Wales is ahead of the league in the whole of the United Kingdom in attracting inward investment throughout the 1980s?
§ Mr. HuntThe partnership with the European Community, with local authorities, with central Government and with the Welsh Development Agency has meant that Wales has consistently won record levels of international investment, as the report bears out. Just as the right hon. Member for Llanelli (Mr. Davies) and I were at Stradey park on Saturday to watch Llanelli gain a brilliant victory, so Wales wins in the world.
§ Mr. Barry JonesI warn the right hon. Gentleman not to strip Deeside of development area status. That would imperil its objective 2 status. Does he agree that this would be the wrong time, during a slump and with rising unemployment, to detract from the assisted area status map of Wales? May I warn him that the steel industry in Europe, Britain and Wales is under severe pressure and ask him what be intends to do to safeguard Wales's steel interests?
§ Mr. HuntIn Wales we are proud to have some of the finest steel plants anywhere in the world, with a producitivity to match that of anywhere in the world.
As for assisted area status, I am about to meet a delegation from Clwyd county council about it, and I will of course bear what the hon. Gentleman says in mind.
§ Mr. Ron DaviesI thank the Secretary of State for his courtesy. I may he the third shadow that he has had to face in 13 weeks, but I assure him that I fully intend to be the next Secretary of State, representing a Welsh constituency.
The fact is that we in Wales need all the help that we can get, from the European Community and from the Government. Wales is now at the bottom of the British wages league. Last week's autumn statement will be a bitter blow. One third of Welsh workers in the public sector are already on low wages, and in effect they now face a pay cut.
Why will not the Secretary of State accept that, with rising unemployment and poverty wages, the last thing that Wales needs is a question mark hanging over its assisted area status in the important belt from Bridgend to Cwmbran—and as my hon. Friend the Member for Alyn and Deeside (Mr. Jones) said, beside the Dee estuary?
5 I am grateful for the right hon. Gentleman's undertaking to consult, but why does he not give the House an assurance that he will fight for assisted area status in Wales? Why will he not assure us that he will fight for Wales?
§ Mr. HuntI am delighted to hear that the hon. Gentleman intends to remain Labour spokesman for many years to come. I am pleased that the game of musical chairs has stopped, and I wish him well as Opposition spokesman for many years to come.
Since I became Secretary of State, wages in Wales have risen faster than the average in the United Kingdom—[Interruption.]—that is a statistical fact. But I also recognise that there is a longstanding problem in Wales. I want many more high-quality, highly paid jobs to come to Wales. I repeat what I have said about the importance of bearing in mind all representations received on assisted area status.