§ Mr. Ron Daviesasked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government regarding integrated development operations in Wales; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if any conclusions have yet emerged from preparatory studies prior to integrated operations in any part of Wales;
(3) if he has come to any final decision regarding the pilot study commissioned by his Department covering industrial south Wales as part of an initiative towards integrated operations submitted to the EEC Commission in 1980.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsThe concept of integrated operations within the Community remains under discussion following consideration by member states and the Commission in the context of the recently concluded review of the European regional development fund. No firm conclusions on how the concept would operate have yet emerged. Close contact has been maintained with the Commission on a national basis and so far as proposals in Wales are concerned relating first to the provisional draft document on industrial south Wales which was prepared in 1980 as an initial basis for discussion and more recently to a study prepared by independent consultants on behalf of the Commission and Clwyd county council. The stage has not been reached for specific designation of integrated development areas but our objective on the basis of work already undertaken is to see progress on any Commission initiative which would increase the effective application of Community aid to Wales.