§ Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Wales if, in view of the loss of textile jobs at Deeside mill, Flint, and the scheduled loss by natural wastage of jobs at Greenfield mill, Holywell, he will visit the Delyn borough council to talk to trade union leaders to discuss his plans for new industry in the area; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsOfficials of my Department are in touch with Courtaulds716W about the prospects at its factories at Flint and Holywell. As I said in my letter of 27 February to the hon. Member, the Government will do everything in their power to create the infrastructure to attract new industry to Deeside and so make it less dependent on one or two industries than hotherto. I have announced additional support for the work of the Welsh Development Agency in the area. I am closely in touch with the position and have no immediate planse for a further visit to the area.
§ Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Wales if, in view of the loss of 4,800 textile jobs in the last decade at Flint, Holywell and Greenfield in the East Flint constituency, he will take special and urgent measures to attract new jobs to these townships; how many empty advance factories there are in these townships; what new locations he has in mind for the extra jobs required; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsI have already authorised a very substantial programme of industrial development work in the East Flint constituency and elsewhere in Clwyd. There are at present no empty advance factories at Flint, Holywell, or Greenfield, but the WDA is building some ¼-million sq. ft. of advance factory space at Manor Farm industrial estate, Bagillt, and at Deeside industrial park, both of which are within easy travelling distance of all the localities mentioned.