asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the main reasons for the substantial increase in crime in rural Wales since 1980; and if he will make a statement.

In the police areas of North Wales and Dyfed Powys, which cover the major part of rural Wales, the percentage changes between 1980 and 1981 in serious offences recorded by the police differed little from the corresponding percentages for Wales, or England and Wales, as a whole. On the general question of reasons for the increase in recorded crime, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to questions by the hon. Member for Ormskirk (Mr. Kilroy-Silk) and the hon. Member for Aberdare (Mr. Evans) on 22 April.—[Vol. 22, c. 403.]