asked the Secretary of Wales whether, in any inquiries made to him about investment projects in Wales, British membership of the Common Market has been mentioned as a factor favouring or discouraging the decision to invest.

I have had no specific comments made to me on these lines, but I am confident that investment will be generally encouraged by the increased opportunities that membership of the E.E.C. would present, and that Welsh industry will seize these opportunities to the full.

Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that a major American firm in my constituency has declared that if Britain enters the Common Market it will embark on a substantial programme of expansion within the constituency, which will produce many more jobs?

I was not aware of that, but I am grateful to my hon. Friend for bringing it to my attention. In my view, there is no doubt that a greatly enlarged and faster growing home market will attract a higher level of investment in British industry and that Wales will benefit.

Will the Secretary of State indicate whether, in his opinion, the industrial development certificate policy, which has been of such benefit to Wales, in past years, will be permitted under the Treaty of Rome?

Yes. I understand that the Treaty of Rome in no way precludes the use of the industrial development certificate.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with representative bodies in Wales about the proposed entry of Great Britain into the European Economic Community.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Cardigan (Mr. Elystan Morgan) on 3rd May.—[Vol. 816, c. 249.]

The right hon. Gentleman has made no attempt whatever to gather the opinion of the people of Wales on whether Britain should enter the Common Market, nor has his Department made any assessment in a White Paper. There has been only a brief Western Mail article last week giving the impression that Wales would benefit——

Order. Is this a Question?

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that no attempt has been made to give any breakdown of the effect on Wales of entry into the Common Market, and that his reply to the hon. Member for Flint, West (Sir A. Myer) indicates that no attempt has been made?

I am aware of and take into account the views expressed by various bodies from time to time in Wales, and in that respect I follow the example of my predecessor, the right hon. Member for Cardiff, West (Mr. George Thomas).

asked the Secretary of State for Wales on what dates officials of the Welsh Office have visited Brussels; and what are the names of the members of the Commission, of the Council of Ministers, and of the officials of the European Economic Community with whom they held discussions.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will now give the status of the Welsh Office officials who visited the headquarters of the European Commission in Brussels.

The then Permanent Secretary, the then Under-Secretary in charge of the Planning Group, who is now the Permanent Secretary, and the Senior Economic Adviser visited Brussels between 18th and 20th April, 1971. They met the member of the Commission with special responsibility for regional policies and a number of E.E.C. officials concerned with this and other subjects of interest to Wales.

What assurances were sought by the Welsh Office officials during their visit? What undertaking or assurances were given about regional policies? Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman order his officials to prepare and publish a report at the earliest moment?

The discussions that my officials had brought out clearly the importance which the members of the Community attach to issues of regional policy and a lively awareness on the part of the Commission of particular problems that are found in peripheral areas of Britain, including Wales. My officials certainly came to the conclusion that our regional policies are compatible with membership. No report can be issued in detail because their discussions were, obviously, confidential.

As the right hon. and learned Gentleman has implied that he knows all the answers, will he tell us under what conditions we will enter the European Investment Bank? Realising that Wales must have a continuing high inflow of financial investment, how does he think Wales will fare under this new banking scheme? May we have a clear answer in percentages and figures? Was it not derogatory to the Principality that he was not in Brussels as a negotiator?

The Question relates to the status of the officials who visited the headquarters of the European Commission. The hon. Gentleman's supplementary question should be directed to my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

As we approach the time when we must decide whether or not to enter the Common Market, is it not right that the people of Wales should be given the maximum possible information about the consequences for Wales of our entry? Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman provide a White Paper on those consequences and include in it the details of the discussions that took place at Brussels?

When the right hon. Gentleman occupied my position he accepted that it was impossible to have an analysis of particular parts of the United Kingdom and that the issue must be looked at in terms of the United Kingdom as a whole. He was a member of a Government which decided to negotiate to get into the Community on the right terms. We have carried on those negotiations and the terms have recently been agreed. At no time when the right hon. Gentleman was in my position did he suggest that there should be a White Paper setting out the position for Wales.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that now that we have reached the crunch in this matter Wales has a right to the maximum information and that if I were in his position I would not hesitate to let the Welsh people know the facts?

Certainly Wales has a right to the maximum information, and it will be given to Wales. In fact, the information is available now. It has been printed and the document is obtainable today in every post office in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the Trade Union Movement in Wales concerning Great Britain's application to join the European Economic Community.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the answef I gave him on 24th May.—[Vol. 818, c. 4.]

Is the Secretary of State for Wales aware that the three principal trade unions in Wales—the Transport and General Workers' Union, the Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers and the South Wales miners—have all declared that they are against entry? Will he further bear in mind that it is those members and the families of those members who will have to pay the cost? If the right hon. and learned Gentleman is so convinced of this venture why does he not urge the holding of a General Election in order to give people a chance to decide their own destiny?

All I know is that the previous Administration, which the hon. Gentleman supported, certainly held the same view as this Government, that it would be in the interests of the United Kingdom and also of Wales, if appropriate terms could be negotiated, for Britain to join the European Economic Community. I shall certainly be very pleased to receive representations from the trade union movement in Wales, but so far it has not got in touch with me.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what conclusions he has reached on the survey made by the Confederation of British Industry on investment in Wales, a copy of which is in his possession.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what conclusions he has reached after reading the report of the recent survey made by the Confederation of British Industry in Wales, a copy of which is in his possession.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the courses of action he proposes to take following the respresentations he has received from the Confederation of British Industry in Wales.

asked the Secretary of Wales if he will make a statement on the recent Confederation of British Industry report on industrial prospects in Wales.

I am currently examining this report in detail.

While the right hon. and learned Gentleman is examining the report, will he take note that 48 out of the 52 firms which have curtailed investment projects, according to the C.B.I. report, have done so for reasons which are either directly attributable to or could be directly ameliorated by a change of Government policy? Will he encourage his right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to bring forward any plans that he has for reflation of the economy? Otherwise, the Welsh economy will go down the plug hole.

The report, which will be examined in detail by my Department and by other Departments, has one or two encouraging features in it. Probably the most encouraging point to emerge from the survey was that 96 out of the 194 firms which participated said that they had taken decisions to expand or to undertake new projects in Wales in the next 12 months.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that at first glance the document supports the view that the C.B.I. believes that stagnation has been caused in Wales? Does not the fact that 52 out of 194 firms have cancelled their plans because of reduced demand lead to a decrease in employment and the maintenance of high unemployment in Wales? Will he, as the representative of Wales, support a policy of increased reflation in the Cabinet to reduce the intolerably high level of unemployment in the Principality?

The position is that there is no other survey with which one can compare this one. Therefore, it is difficult to say whether 52 out of the 194 firms compares unfavourably or otherwise with what would have been the situation, let us say, two or more years ago.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the report gives a disturbing indication that the change from investment grants to investment allowances has been a serious contributory factor in the decision of firms not to expand? Does the right hon. Gentleman not regard that as a challenge to him to reverse his policy?

I disagree with the right hon. Gentleman, because it is significant that the changes in incentives do not loom large in the survey. In fact, only 11 firms out of a total of 194 gave that as their first or second reason for cancelling projects. It is also of importance to note that the survey was undertaken largely before the Budget, and the changes announced by my right hon. Friend in the Budget were, therefore, not known to many of those who participated.

Will the right hon. Gentleman explain to the House why he is denying investment grants to Wales, while the Cabinet, of which he is a member, is allowing investment grants in Tory Northern Ireland, and will he say which is the wrong decision?

There are special circumstances in Northern Ireland, and it was considered that the measures that were in operation should continue. The position in Wales is the same as that in the United Kingdom. The change from investment grants to the new incentives, and all the changes that were made, will undoubtedly be of permanent benefit to Wales.

Alongside the report, are not there indications of increased strength and resilience in the Welsh economy, which has stood up to the recent difficulties of the United Kingdom better than any other development area in the country?

My hon. Friend is right.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that it is not only private enterprise that is now failing to invest in Wales, but this Government, too? Will he bear in mind that the Labour Government sited the Motor Taxation Department at Swansea, the Royal Mint at Llantrisant, and the Census Office at Newport, thereby providing thousands of jobs, while his Government have decided to site the value-added tax department at Southend, which will do a lot of damage to Wales?

I think that the hon. Gentleman should put down a Question to the appropriate Department on that. He will understand that it was necessary for the V.A.T. office to be part of the Customs and Excise, and to be near London, and Customs and Excise already has premises at Southend.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when the Government's new policies of incentives will begin to take effect on job opportunities in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment has now been made by his Department of the effect on investment in Wales as a result of a change in Government policy to investment allowances.

I am satisfied that the changes made in the system of investment incentives, combined with the various measures taken by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, will encourage the profitable and viable investment which is so much needed in Wales.

I asked the right hon. and learned Gentleman when the Government's new policies would begin to take effect. He keeps on telling us that they will take effect soon or his colleagues in the Government tell us to wait and see. Does he find on his visits to Wales that he has many friends outside the loyal supporters of his party? Do they think the Government are following the right policies? Will he use the considerable influence which he claims to have in the Cabinet to get the Government to change this policy in the way that his friends in Northern Ireland have succeeded in doing?

Apart from the abolition of investment grants and the substitution of investment incentives, many measures have been announced to stimulate investment, including a reduction in corporation tax and income tax, the halving of selective employment tax, increased building grants, a cut in bank rate and an increase in grants for house improvements. All these things will encourage investment in Wales. Many of them have yet to come into effect. For example, the cut in S.E.T. does not come into effect until 5th July. It is, therefore, far too early to say when the full effect of these policies will be felt.

Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman appreciate that in the last year job opportunities and job prospects have fallen sharply while the rate of redundancies has been running at a higher level than for many years, that the number of inquiries from industries and companies wishing to come to Wales is running at a very low level and that in the first five months of this year only 21 new firms came to Wales, while in the first five months of 1969 24 new firms came to Wales under the investment grant policy followed by the Labour Government?

We undoubtedly have high unemployment in Wales, but it started in July, 1966. [Interruption.] In the last six months of that year the rate of unemployment in Wales doubled and that brought about the most prolonged period of high unemployment in Wales since the 'thirties. It was made worse by the endless attacks on company profits made by the Labour Government, and accelerated by their surrender to the forces of wage-cost inflation, leading up to the last General Election.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the numbers of persons under 30 years of age who will leave Wales in 1971, according to current trends.

No reliable estimate can be made.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not appreciate that for a long time there has been a steady flow out of Wales of the younger and more virile element, and that in many areas of Wales there is no alternative employment to allow these young people to remain in their own country? Does he not appreciate that this is probably the most important of all the tasks confronting him as Secretary of State for Wales?

I agree that that is a very important matter. No reliable figures can be given, because this is a matter for the Census Office. The last figures were for the year before the 1966 Census, and in that year there was a net outflow of nearly 2,000 from Wales in the 18–24 age group. The only figure that one has now is that last year there was a net inward migration of 4,568, but it is impossible to divide that into age groups.

Surely the Secretary of State has heard the saying in Wales that the moment a boy enters a grammar school he has taken the first step to leaving Wales? Will the right hon. Gentleman accept that, from my experience of sending about 50 boys a year to universities, I have made a careful check and found that if three in every 20 are able to take up employment in Wales, that is as high as the figure has ever been? Will the right hon. Gentleman accept that to all those who care for Wales this is a deeply disturbing problem, and that part of the solution lies in diversifying industry, particularly in forward-looking, technological fields, so that we may retain some of this most valuable asset, our human energy?

I agree with the hon. Gentleman. The phrase "education for export" has been used in Wales for many years. I am happy to say that there are one or two industries in Wales which are expanding industries and offer good employment opportunities. I hope that we shall be able to attract even more such industries into Wales. I agree that diversification is of major importance.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has met representatives of the Confederation of British Industry in Wales; and whether he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has in the near future to meet the Welsh Section of the Confederation of British Industry.

I met representatives of the C.B.I. in Wales on 7th August and on 6th November last year; and will be ready to hold further meetings whenever necessary.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman accept that it would be a useful meeting, first, because it is quite clear that he is receiving advice from some Government source which is decidedly out of accord with the reality of the industrial position in Wales? Further, when he meets the C.B.I., will he take very seriously the advice, which I am certain he will get, that doing away with investment grants is a piece of party political dogma which, quite clearly, is not the most effective or the cheapest way of giving the kind of encouragement to Welsh industry that it needs? If he accepts that investment grants do not cost any more money than tax allowances, why does he consider that that is the most effective method of helping Northern Ireland?

The changeover has saved a considerable amount of public expenditure which was wasteful and discriminatory. The changeover was one which had been advocated by the C.B.I. for many years.

When the right hon. Gentleman meets the C.B.I. again, will he tell it that the Government are prepared at least to redeem some of the damage by giving industrialists the option of choosing between investment allowances and investment grants, especially bearing in mind that foreign firms—such as American firms—do not get very much benefit out of investment allowances when they invest in Wales because they do not have the profit to set against those allowances?

As the hon. Gentleman knows, the investment allowances are only part of the incentive given in Wales, and one has to look at the whole package. The whole package is a considerable improvement on what happened in the past, and is a great incentive to industry to go to Wales.

Did the Minister, in his talks with the C.B.I. discuss the question of firms coming to Wales which had entered into heavy financial contracts under the old dispensation of grants, now finding themselves in serious financial difficulty following the announcement last October? If the right hon. Gentleman did have such discussions, what proposals has the C.B.I. or the right hon. Gentleman for relieving the serious position facing some of these firms?

The discussions that I had with the C.B.I. in Wales were in August and November last. At that time considerable complaints were made by representatives of industry in Wales about measures that had been taken by the previous Administration, measures such as penal taxation, and measures they felt discriminated against small businesses.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he intends to begin negotiations with the Cardiff City Council concerning the proposals for the Llantrisant Radial Road.

I have already had discussions with the City Council and Glamorgan County Council and announced on 24th June that future responsibility for this road will lie with the two councils.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will pay an official visit to the Welsh Brigade Depot at Cwrt-y-Gollen.

I visited the depot on 12th February.

I know that the visit by the Secretary of State to the depot on 12th February was much appreciated. Is he aware of the representations made by the Colonels of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and the Royal Regiment of Wales, and will he as Secretary of State make clear to the Ministry of Defence the importance of maintaining a fully Welsh training depot if the best possible use is to be made of Welsh recruits and if the special Welsh character of the regiments is to be safeguarded?

Yes, Sir. I am aware that representations are being considered through military channels to preserve the Welsh character of this depot, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence and I will be in touch about these matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the additional number of ambulances which would be needed to render practicable the implementation of the latest proposals of the Welsh Hospital Board for the reorganisation of hospitals in Cardiff, Caerphilly, Barry, Penarth, and adjacent parts of south-east Glamorgan; and what advice he has given to local authorities regarding the need for making this additional provision.

Local health authorities are responsible for providing ambulance services. Discussions have taken place between the Welsh Hospital Board and the local health authorities concerned, and I am satisfied that proper provision will be made to meet the extra demand on the ambulance service.

Is my hon. Friend aware that many people who have spent a lifetime of service in health administration in South Wales are of the opinion that this is an extremely difficult matter and have expressed great disquiet at the fact that the ambulance services may have to take people into the crowded centre of Cardiff in adverse traffic conditions at all hours of the day?

I am very much aware of what my hon. Friend has said on this important matter, particularly with regard to the reorganisation of hospitals in this area. I assure him that discussions are taking place. This is a local authority responsibility and not a Welsh Office matter.

Will the hon. Gentleman recall some of the questions I have put down on this matter which have been based on expert advice from local authorities and from people in medical circles? May I ask him earnestly to look at this question again in depth since the people mentioned in those Questions are still extremely perturbed that there may be a breakdown in this vital service?

I know that there is concern about this matter and that the hon. Gentleman has expressed this concern in Questions on earlier occasions. We are aware of the problems, as are the local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many children in Swansea and in Wales as a whole have stopped having school meals since the price was raised.

At the end of May 1,806 fewer school meals were provided in Swansea than in the autumn of 1970. The corresponding figure for Wales was 64,678.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this 12 per cent. fall in the number of school children taking school meals in Swansea is an appalling indictment of Government mean-minded-ness? Since one of the great virtues of the school meal is that it gives a nutritionally balanced diet, will he give an assurance that he will not follow the suggestion of partial meals at midday made by his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education on 23rd April? Will he say whether he wants the children of Wales going through the day on half rations?

It does not necessarily follow that all the children who have ceased to take school meals have done so because of the price increase. A drop is normally experienced during the summer term. I would remind the hon. Gentleman that the Labour Government twice raised the price of school meals.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that he and his right hon. Friends have added to any increase that was there before, and have now made the situation extremely difficult for families in Wales? Therefore, will he look again at the question of putting our children in the front line of sacrifice?

I am satisfied that under the new remission arrangements no parent who cannot afford to pay the increased charge for school meals will be called upon to do so.

Will my hon. Friend encourage his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science to persevere in her policy of concentrating Government expenditure where it belongs: namely, on the provision of better schools? But will he also encourage his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services to ensure that under the new arrangements no child is left undernourished or in a situation in which he faces humiliation?

Yes, I can give my hon. Friend an assurance on the second point. On his first point, I would remind him that the responsibility for increased Government expenditure on primary schools, which was announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science, is a shared responsibility with my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in the county of Flintshire there was a scarifying drop of 20 per cent. in the number of school meals taken after the increase in price? Is he not ashamed of this Scrooge-like, brutal, skinflint and heartless measure?

We need to be a little careful with the figures. One is comparing the figure after the rise in price with last autumn's figure and not the figure at Easter, which is not available. It is fair comment that the take-up of school meals is normally not so high in the early part of the year as later in the summer.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many schoolchildren in the county of Glamorgan and in Monmouthshire have ceased to take school means since the last increase in the price of such meals; and what percentages these figures represent of children who previously took school meals.

At the end of May 18,042 and 10,369 fewer school meals were provided in Glamorgan and Monmouthshire respectively than in the autumn of 1970. This represents percentage decreases of 25·1 and 31·7 respectively.

Does the hon. Gentleman realise the utterly disgraceful situation which exists in two local authorities which for many years have maintained a phenomenally high standard of service to children in this respect? Is he aware that even inside counties which share in the general high level of unemployment there are pockets of higher unemployment still, in which the decrease in the take-up of school meals is much higher than 25 per cent.? Does he appreciate that at the very time when this burden is being inflicted on the British people the cost of school meals in the United States has been slashed from about 40 cents to between 25 cents and 30 cents? Will he do something to ensure that our Welfare State, which was once the pride of the world, does not take second place to America, at any rate from the school meals point of view?

The decisions which the Government have taken over school meals and milk are examples of the determination of priorities—[Interruption.]—I trust that hon. Gentlemen opposite will do me the courtesy of listening to my reply—to enable resources to be switched to areas of greater need. These decisions have helped to make possible the enormous improvement and replacement of old primary schools, about which the Labour Government did very little.

The hon. Gentleman talks of priorities, but is it not a fact that the total cost of paying for school milk is about equal to the total relief which is to be given to surtax payers on 1st January?

I understood that this question was about meals and school milk and education services. [HON. MEMBERS: "Priorities."] I repeat that as a result of changes in charges for milk and meals, it has been possible for my right hon. and learned Friend and his right hon. Friend to announce that it will be possible to spend £13 million on primary schools in Wales in the next three financial years.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received from local authorities in Wales concerning the definition of large projects as it applies in Circular 116/70; and what replies he has sent.

Representations were received from one county area to the effect that the definition of a large project operated inequitably for the smaller local authorities. In reply, my Department explained that the definition had been agreed with the local authority associations.

Would the Secretary of State not agree that the present definition of "large projects" means that borough councils in Glamorgan cannot receive loan sanction for projects unless they envisage expenditure in one year of sums in the range of £1 million? This has the effect that many local authorities in South Wales, particularly in my constituency in Rhondda, will be unable next year to proceed with any further capital projects without a massive rate increase or by completely abandoning other essential programmes?

As I said in the Welsh Grand Committee, the joint working party has been reconvened to reconsider how the new scheme can be improved for 1972–73. Therefore, I suggest that the hon. Gentleman suggests to his council that it should take the matter up with the local authority associations which will be represented on that committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is now able to announce the Government's policy on the clearance of derelict land in the next financial year 1972–73.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment to my hon. Friend the Member for Tynemouth (Dame Irene Ward) on 22nd June. This answer applies equally to Wales.—[Vol. 819, c. 271–2.]

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that when I and a number of my colleagues stressed the dangers of placing this subject in the non-key sector, we were told by the Government that our fears were groundless? Will he therefore pay more heed to the practical experience of hon. Members on this matter, and, furthermore, will he encourage all local authorities in South Wales, particularly where there are problems involving derelict land, to push ahead with schemes in the next year and in future years without any let or hindrance on the part of the Government?

I wish to make it clear that there has never been any question of hold-up in this matter. Not a single derelict land scheme has been held up as a result of the system which has been operating up to the present. With regard to the other matter, I am sure the hon. Gentleman will be happy to hear that we on this side of the House share with him a desire to deal with derelict land, and we have now adopted this particular way of doing so.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many letters of protest he has received concerning the proposed route of the Chester southern bypass in so far as it affects residents of Broughton, East Flintshire.

My right hon. and learned Friend has so far received 326 such objections.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware of the seething discontent, grave apprehension and united opposition of this community to this proposal and to the miserable likelihood of there being motorised bedlam in the village of Hawarden? Will he let justice be done and order a public inquiry?

Yes.

I am grateful for that reply.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when the recent major road alterations were completed at the A5 road junction at Whitehurst Forge near Chirk; and how many fatalities have occurred since then between this junction and Whitehurst Village.

This improvement scheme was completed in October, 1969. The fatal accident which occurred on Saturday, 19th June, is the first since these road works were completed.

I am disappointed that the figure is as high as it is, as I am sure the hon. Gentleman will also be. Is he aware that there are several unsatisfactory features of the layout and approaches, and that grave doubts are being expressed by people living near there, particularly since the completion of the junction? Will he ask his engineers to look at the layout with a view to making improvements?

Both the A483 and the A5 roads at this point are included in a main feasibility study now being carried out by the engineers on behalf of my right hon. and learned Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied with the amount of light industry which has come into West Wales during the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

No, Sir. I want to see a higher level of light industry in West Wales. The Government will continue to make every effort to bring this area to the attention of industrialists seeking suitable locations.

Does the Secretary of State appreciate that the people of West Wales will not be impressed at all by such sweet words, and that the substitution of investment allowances for investment grants is of no use to them at all since most of the firms are small and do not make profits in the early years?

I agree that only one new project was secured in the last 12 months, and in the previous 12 months, apart from the new refinery at Milford Haven, there was also only one new project. Work will start, as the hon. Gentleman knows, next month on an advance factory at Fishguard. A little later on—I cannot yet give the date-work will start on building an advance factory at Aberystwyth, and in late summer nursery advance factories will be started at Lampeter. Approval was given by me in May for a cluster of factories in Cardigan.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has received the report of his inspector upon the Rio Tinto Zinc Company's application to drill in Merioneth.

Yes; and my right hon. and learned Friend is now considering it.

When the Secretary of State visited Holyhead on Saturday to open the project which Rio Tinto Zinc and others have developed there, was he informed that this project for Merioneth, though the report was favourable, could not come to fruition because of the effect of the Government's investment policy?

I will ask my right hon. and learned Friend, and I will ask him to write to the hon. Gentleman.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has finished his consultations about the staffing of the accident unit at the County Hospital, Haverfordwest; and if he will make a statement.

I am awaiting the advice of the Advisory Committee on Consultant Establishments.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the crucial section of the report on hospital services in Pembrokeshire was that dealing with the manning of the accident service? Can he assure the House that he is giving the very highest priority to the completion of consultations and early implementation, and that he will not allow them to be held up by any dilatory action which may be going on in England?

I can give my hon. Friend that assurance. I know his interest in the matter. I think he knows that the Welsh Office and the Department of Health and Social Security have been deliberating on this subject as a matter of the utmost urgency.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has for reducing youth unemployment in Wales.

The Government's policies are designed to secure economic growth, and will thus provide increased employment opportunities for young people.

Does not the right hon. and learned Gentleman realise that his reply does not really mean a thing? Is he not aware that in the last 12 months youth unemployment in Monmouthshire, the one county nearest to England and to the growth points of the British economy, has gone up by 30 per cent., that youth employment opportunities have gone down by 60 per cent., and that none of the platitudes he has uttered means a thing to the young unemployed of Wales?

I agree that the level of youth unemployment in Wales is far too high, and is a matter of great concern to everyone. I am happy to say that there are signs of improvement; that in May and June unemployment among young people fell by 643 and that in the same period the number of unfilled vacancies increased by 138. Vacancies have been increasing, though I agree not fast enough, since last March.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales on what date he met the Advisory Committee for Wales of the National Youth Employment Council.

I have not met this committee, which I understand is currently being reconstituted.

Is it not disgraceful that the Secretary of State, having published in his annual report the concern of this body about unemployment amongst young people in Wales, has not yet bothered to meet it? Is he aware that responsible opinion throughout the Principality is disturbed by the fact that a large number of our young people have now been unemployed for over 12 months? What is he doing about it?

The right hon. Gentleman should know that this is not the sort of committee that would meet me. This is an advisory committee to the National Youth Employment Council, which is a council whose point of contact with the Government is the Department of Employment. I have received no invitation to meet this committee: if I were invited, I would certainly see whether I could accept.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he can now give his decision on the provision of free welfare milk for pre-school handicapped children, having regard particularly to the case referred to him recently by the hon. Member for Aberdare.

No, Sir. This matter is still under consideration.

Does not the hon. Gentleman realise that the Government's policy of restriction on milk is a mean and niggardly policy towards those who are mere babies, who are physically handicapped and who have to rely on milk as a principal food? When we hear about priorities, when the Government are prepared to spend hundreds of millions of pounds to go into the Common Market, and when his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science can say that her priorities are such that we have to deprive children of free milk in order to pay for primary schools, does not the hon. Gentleman agree that it is blatant hypocrisy?

In addition to what I said in my answer, I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will realise that this is not purely a matter for Wales. It concerns England and Wales. Discussions are, therefore, going on at the present time.