HC Deb 07 March 2001 vol 364 cc281-2
5. Mr. Simon Thomas (Ceredigion)

What discussion he has held with the Chancellor of the Exchequer regarding the release of additional resources to the National Assembly for Wales to deal with recent job losses. [151052]

The Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Paul Murphy)

I have regular discussions with my Cabinet colleagues, including the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, about a range of issues affecting Wales.

Mr. Thomas

I thank the Secretary of State for that revealing answer. In the light of the 20,000 jobs lost in manufacturing, the 6,000 jobs lost in the past two years in the rural economy and the 300-odd jobs lost this week through the closure of abattoirs due to the foot and mouth disease outbreak, what further talks will he have to ascertain compensation for consequential job losses in the agriculture industry due to foot and mouth? Also, how can we re-market Wales as a tourist destination once the foot and mouth restrictions are lifted? We must get Wales back on the tourist map.

Mr. Murphy

I accept the hon. Gentleman's points, but, as he is aware the first and most important thing is to ensure that we end the crisis. The hon. Gentleman is aware of the compensation arrangements that are already in place, and I am sure that the points that he raised will have been heard by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. However, the most important thing is to ensure that the crisis is overcome in the first place.

Mr. Ted Rowlands (Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney)

May I re-emphasis se to my right hon. Friend how disastrous and nightmarish it will be if the proposed closures in the steel industry go ahead? If Corus continues to ignore all our pleas, will my right hon. Friend assure us that, besides resources being made available, there will be some new, imaginative thinking in the National Assembly and Whitehall to deal with the crisis that will hit our communities?

Mr. Murphy

Yes, I can give my hon. Friend the assurance that, with the National Assembly, we are thinking carefully about the measures that we would take in that event. As he is aware, we await the results of discussions between Corus and the trade unions on alternative proposals for the Corus plants. [Interruption.]

Mr. Speaker

Order. I must appeal to the House again. There is too much noise in the Chamber, which is unfair to those who are ht re for Question Time.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield)

Will the Secretary of State accept from me that many manufacturing concerns are about to lay off people because of the haphazard and insensitive way in which the climate change levy is to be introduced? Does he not accept that that will place another heavy burden on British manufacturing industry, which will make it less competitive and, sadly, lead to it disposing of labour?

Mr. Murphy

The hon. Gentleman will have heard the Under-Secretary's earlier remarks on the climate change levy. Although I accept that there have been job losses in Wales over the past few months, particularly in manufacturing, I do not accept that they are the result of anything to do with the climate change levy. I believe that the economy in Wales is changing and, as the hon. Gentleman knows, 17,000 extra jobs have been created in Wales in recent times—because of that change.

Mr. John Smith (Vale of Glamorgan)

Does my right hon. Friend agree that one way to secure even more job-creating investment in Wales is to ensure that we have a first-class international airport serving the Welsh business community? The way to achieve that is to provide a new access road—a dual carriageway—to that airport. Is he aware that an airport symposium organised by the business community will take place in Vale of Glamorgan on 31 March? Will he assure me that he will listen very carefully to its views?

Mr. Murphy

Of course I assure my hon. Friend that we shall listen very carefully to that symposium. I pay tribute to him as he is an assiduous fighter for the airport in his constituency.