§ 15. Sir Wyn RobertsTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many jobs he estimates were(a) created and (b) safeguarded by inward investment in Wales in the year to 31 March. [31661]
§ Mr. HagueInward investment recorded for Wales last year promises the creation of 6,800 new jobs and the safeguarding of 5,848 existing jobs, an increase of almost 40 per cent. on the previous year's total.
19. Mr. Robert G. HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what new inward investments have recently come to south Wales. [31665]
§ Mr. HagueWelcome announcements and openings have recently been made, including Ford's £300 million expansion at Bridgend; Newport Wafer-Fab' s £230 million expansion near Newport; Halla's £17 million investment at Pentrebach; STS's £5 million expansion at Imperial Park; Ringtel's project at Cwmbran; the Showa Corporation's new investment at Aberaman Park in the Cynon Valley; and General Electric's £27 million expansion at Nantgarw. These projects alone account for almost 5,000 new and safeguarded jobs.
§ Sir Irvine PatnickTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made in encouraging inward investment from Taiwan. [31666]
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesMy right hon. Friend has recently announced the official opening of an important Taiwanese manufacturing investment—Ringtel Electronics at Cwmbran. Taiwan is a very promising market and we are confident that this important investment will be followed by others.