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Mr. Newton: That is one of the two or three attempts that the hon. Gentleman has made to raise the issue. The hon. Member for Wallasey (Ms Eagle) raised it with my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on Tuesday and I have absolutely nothing to add to what he said on that occasion.
Mr. Nick Ainger (Pembroke): May we have a debate on the Sea Empress disaster at the earliest opportunity, particularly in light of the fact that the Secretary of State for Transport has made two statements to the House about the incident but he has instituted only an internal inquiry? Since his statement last Thursday, it has become clear that the environmental damage is far greater than was first predicted. It is already far greater than the damage incurred following the Braer disaster, in relation to which Lord Donaldson conducted an independent inquiry.
Since the Secretary of State's statement, it has come to light that Department of Transport officials and their agencies were involved in the decision-making process about an accident on Thursday 15 February which led to a disaster on Monday 19 February. To a certain extent, they are to blame for that disaster and for the resulting threat to the local economy and environment in my area. Will the Leader of the House urge the Secretary of State for Transport to establish an independent inquiry--ideally chaired and controlled by Lord Donaldson--bearing in mind the significant changes that have occurred since his last statement?
Mr. Newton:
Of course, I acknowledge the significance of the environmental damage. I had hoped that the hon. Gentleman would also acknowledge the scale of the work that is going on. For example, I understand that no fewer than six oil recovery vessels are at work in Carmarthen bay and that more than 450 people are involved in beach cleaning and other activities at some 20 sites.
As to the main thrust of the hon. Gentleman's question--which echoes a comment made during Prime Minister's questions today--the Marine Accident Investigation Branch will carry out a thorough and independent inquiry. If I were a member of that branch,I would rather regret the implicit slur that it will not do the job properly.
Mr. Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne, Central):
On a point of order, Madam Speaker. I seek your assistance in ensuring that hon. Members receive answers to parliamentary questions in good time. The Department of Social Security in Newcastle is facing great changes. More than a month ago I tabled a question asking purely for facts--there was not a single policy implication--about job losses in Newcastle DSS in the past 12 months. I have had to wait more than four weeks for a reply.I seek your help in ensuring more timely and better quality answers from the DSS.
Madam Speaker:
I have every sympathy with the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, Central (Mr. Cousins) if what he says is correct--I have no reason to doubt that it is. Four weeks is an inordinately long time to wait for a reply from a Department and I hope that Ministers have noted the exchange.
Mr. Julian Brazier, supported by Mr. Michael Alison, Mr. Donald Anderson, Rev. Martin Smyth, Mr. Lawrence Cunliffe and Mr. John Marshall, presented a Bill to provide alternatives for the declaration and words of contract prescribed by law for marriage ceremonies in registered buildings and register offices, on approved premises and in certain other circumstances: And the same was read the First time; and ordered to be read a Second time upon 29 March 1996 and to be printed. [Bill 71.]
4.52 pm
The Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. William Hague): It is a great pleasure to open this annual debate on Welsh affairs. I am pleased that we can celebrateSt. David's day by debating Welsh issues.
I know that you, Madam Speaker, were pleased to celebrate St. David's day this morning by receiving daffodils from five-year-old Megan Godwin representing the children of Wales. Tomorrow, I shall be pleased to welcome His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales to the Welsh Office in Cardiff where he will meet many staff.
We shall celebrate St. David's day tomorrow by announcing one of the largest investment projects to come to Wales in recent times. It demonstrates clearly the points that I intend to highlight in my remarks today: the undeniable momentum behind the Welsh economy, the importance of driving up levels of education and training, and the benefits that accrue to Wales from being part of the United Kingdom. I intend also to discuss at some length our approach to the environment, particularly in light of the Sea Empress incident about which I shall say a good deal. I shall also make some important announcements about the future responsibilities of local government in Wales.
The economic background to today's debate is good--as it is across the United Kingdom. The Government's policies aim to deliver low inflation, sound public finance and an efficient economy. They are the features that enable businesses to create wealth and deliver increased employment and rising living standards. That is true for this, and for any other, country. Our international competitors know that now, but we have set the pace. Interest rates have been set to achieve underlying inflation of 2.5 per cent. or less, and inflation has been below4 per cent. for more than three years--which is the best run for almost half a century. Unemployment in the United Kingdom is now well below the European average.
Mr. Peter Hain (Neath):
I ask the Secretary of State to clarify a report which appeared in yesterday's Western Mail that European Union objective 2 status may be lost in Neath, Port Talbot and parts of Cardiff and that funds may be switched to parts of England in order to benefit the Conservatives. I am sure that he will agree that the Welsh Office should fight hard on behalf of areas such as mine where unemployment is still very high in real terms.
Mr. Hague:
I certainly do not wish to see the status of those areas change in any way. The Government do not plan to propose any change in their status and we do not want the European Commission to do so. I shall visit Brussels next Monday, when I shall make that point to the European Commission.
Total United Kingdom industrial production is at record levels, manufacturing investment has risen 12 per cent. in a year and the public sector borrowing requirement has fallen. They are the major strengths of the United Kingdom's economic recovery. Wales shares in that economic record and it exceeds the average United Kingdom performance in some important respects. Output in Wales rose by more than 4 per cent. in the year to September 1995 and manufacturing output rose by 3.7 per cent. Since 1990, average wage levels in Wales have risen faster than in Great Britain as a whole.
Unemployment has fallen by 22 per cent. since the end of 1992. The old image of Wales as an area of chronic structural unemployment has not been true for some time. Unemployment in Wales has been at or near the United Kingdom average for 18 months. No Government since the 1920s--and no Labour Government--have been able to say that.
Mr. Alan Williams (Swansea, West):
Will the Secretary of State revise his comments in view of the fact that the failure to keep the level of unemployment to that inherited by the Government in 1979 has meant the loss of 1 million man years of work in Wales and £13 billion in earnings?
Mr. Hague:
I am painting a different picture of the Welsh economy today--one of rapid improvement and greater employment in manufacturing and elsewhere. Since 1985, manufacturing employment in Wales has increased more than it has in any other region of the United Kingdom. Looking to the future--which is what really counts--a recent Dun and Bradstreet survey found that almost 80 per cent. of Welsh firms expect to increase their sales, which is the highest proportion in Great Britain; almost 70 per cent. of Welsh firms expect to increase their exports, which is the highest proportion in Great Britain; and almost two thirds of Welsh firms expect to increase their employment, which is the highest proportion in Great Britain.
That is the background to the Welsh economy. The Government aim to keep Britain on course to becoming the enterprise centre of Europe. My ambitions for Wales are no less: I want Wales to be an enterprise centre in Britain. Our history, skills and recent performance give me confidence that Wales can be at the leading edge of the United Kingdom's economic success.
Mr. Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):
I shall put the question posed by my right hon. Friend the Member for Swansea, West (Mr. Williams) in a different way. Will the Secretary of State comment on the fact that, since the Tories came to power in May 1979, 500 million working days have been lost in Wales through unemployment?
Mr. Hague:
The hon. Gentleman must recognise that unavoidable structural changes have occurred in the Welsh economy. The steel works at Port Talbot, which employs 4,000 workers, produces more steel now than it did in 1980 when it had a work force of 18,000. We could not have set our face against those changes and maintained competitive industries by refusing to embrace progress. Instead, we have ensured that new industries come to Wales, and there is more evidence every week that that effort is gaining momentum. We must now take that success forward, and public and private bodies must work together to do so. Wales has a strong tradition of partnership and team work, and nowhere is that more important than in winning inward investment.
More than 70,000 people are now employed in Wales by overseas-owned manufacturing companies. Those companies provide tremendous employment opportunities and a healthy diversification of industrial activity. They also create opportunities for indigenous companies.
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