HC Deb 17 October 2001 vol 372 cc1159-60
7. Mr. Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale, West)

If he will make a statement on manufacturing employment in Wales. [4197]

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

Some 7,500 jobs have been announced in the manufacturing sector in Wales in the past 12 months. That is particularly welcome in the context of severe losses in the steel sector.

Mr. Brady

I am amazed by the complacency of the Secretary of State's comments. In the past four years throughout the United Kingdom 8 per cent. of the nation's manufacturing jobs have been destroyed by the Government. In Wales, the picture is worse. Does the right hon. Gentleman accept that this Government's tax and regulatory policies have been one of the main reasons why those jobs have gone? What is he going to do now to lift that burden from business in Wales and start to reverse the decline?

Mr. Murphy

I do not agree with the hon. Gentleman on the basis that he represents a party that saw the loss of 2 million manufacturing jobs during its period of office. Of course we have lost jobs in steel and elsewhere, but as I said earlier jobs are coming to our economy in Wales. Of course I am not complacent. I live in Wales and I represent a Welsh constituency.

Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd)

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in the seven years prior to 1997 under the previous Conservative Government only 100 jobs were created on the St. Asaph business park? In the four years since then, under a Labour Government, 1,100 jobs have been created on that £11.5 million project. Will my right hon. Friend join in congratulating the National Assembly for Wales, Denbighshire county council and the Welsh Development Agency on creating quality jobs in my constituency?

Mr. Murphy

Not only do I congratulate my colleagues in the National Assembly, the WDA and the local authority, I congratulate my hon. Friend. He played a major role in the St. Asaph business park development. At present, about 520 people are employed there—100 are in inward investment companies. So, that is a great new story for north Wales and for his constituency in particular.