HC Deb 29 April 1996 vol 276 cc390-1W
25. Mr. Wigley

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking, in conjunction with the Welsh Development Agency and the Development Board for Rural Wales, to ensure that inward investment industrial projects are encouraged to locate in the western counties of Wales; and if he will make a statement. [25657]

Mr. Hague

I have given the agency and the board specific targets: the agency is required to encourage 20 per cent. of inward investment cases to go beyond the eastern M4 and A55 corridors and the board is required to deploy 50 per cent. of its programme expenditure in the western parts of its area and to attract at least 30 per cent. of new jobs from new inward investment projects to those parts of its area not in Powys. These provide a focus. Other measures include the significant infrastructural improvements that are on-going and the assisted areas upgrading that took place in 1993.

26. Mr. David Evans

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent major inward investments have come to Wales; and if he will make a statement. [25658]

Mr. Hague

Recent announcements show that Wales continues to be a leading region for inward investment and my recent visit to the United States confirmed my belief that more will come. Over the past few months, significant projects have been announced by Ford,; Newport Wafer-Fab,; Halla,; Sumitomo,; and Cable OnLine. There has been significant success in the financial services sector too, including Legal and General.