§ 27. Mr. ÖpikTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he is taking to ensure that the Welsh Development Agency supports indigenous Welsh businesses as fully as it supports foreign investors. [66415]
§ Mr. MichaelYesterday, on 26 January 1999,Official Report, column 172, in response to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Preseli Pembrokeshire (Ms Lawrence), I announced that I had written to the Chairman of the Welsh Development Agency setting out Strategic Guidance for the period to March 2000. A copy of this letter is available in the Library of the House. I made it clear that the Agency, in addition to attracting foreign direct investment, must concentrate on supporting new businesses and encouraging small businesses to grow in all parts of Wales.
In future this will become the responsibility of the National Assembly.