§ Mr. Roy Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he has calculated what effect the lack of investment in Welsh industry, as shown by the recent Confederation of British Industry report, will have on the Welsh economy, and particularly on the level of employment;
(2) if his attention has been drawn to the recent report of the Confederation of British Industry which indicated that 27 per cent. of firms surveyed in Wales have recently cancelled plans for new investment, and that more than half plan no expansion in the next year; what action he proposes to remedy the situation; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasI have received a copy of the Survey of Investment Incentives undertaken by the Wales Regional Council of the Confederation of British Industry. As the report points out, the size of the sample calls for caution in interpreting this Survey, much of which was carried out before the Budget statement of last March. I am now having the Survey examined in detail.