§ Mr. John MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what new guidelines he has issued to the Welsh Development Agency as regards financial incentives to encourage inward investment to West Glamorgan and other areas. [21041]
§ Mr. HagueOn 19 March I wrote to the chairman of the WDA to inform him of the agency's strategic targets and priorities for 1997–98; a copy has also been placed in the Library of the House.
The guidance stated that the agency should concentrate on the creation and safeguarding of jobs through inward investment and company development. Moreover, the benefits should be spread throughout Wales, particularly in the remaining areas of higher unemployment in the south Wales valleys and the western areas of Wales; the targets which have been set reflect that and the agency is expected to recognise, within UK and EC limits, the extra costs of locating in areas outside of the eastern M4 and A55 corridors.