Secretary of State (Official Engagements)

Oral Answers to Questions — Wales – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 1 March 1971.

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Photo of Mr George Thomas Mr George Thomas , Cardiff West 12:00, 1 March 1971

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will state his official engagements in Wales on each Saturday since 1st January, 1971.

Photo of Mr Peter Thomas Mr Peter Thomas , Hendon South

I had two official engagements in Cardiff last Saturday.

Photo of Mr George Thomas Mr George Thomas , Cardiff West

Is the Secretary of State aware that I am so surprised at his answer I can hardly think of a supplementary question? Is he further aware that he has already told the House that he is kept in London from Monday to Friday, and does he not agree that the Welsh people are entitled to the holder of that office spending more time in Wales than he is spending.

Photo of Mr Peter Thomas Mr Peter Thomas , Hendon South

The right hon. Gentleman, sitting in the comparative luxury of the Opposition Front Bench, is a very hard taskmaster. I was in North Wales on Friday, I was in Mid-Wales on Friday and I was in Cardiff on Saturday. Considering the fact that I was unable to get a pair throughout the whole of the week, I think that is pretty good going.

Photo of Mr George Thomas Mr George Thomas , Cardiff West

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I am doing my best to help him and that during the period—

Photo of Mr Selwyn Lloyd Mr Selwyn Lloyd , Wirral

Order. The right hon. Gentleman must not discuss the pairing arrangements.

Photo of Mr George Thomas Mr George Thomas , Cardiff West

Not even on St. David's Day? I accept the Ruling, Mr. Speaker. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the office he holds can be fulfilled properly only if its holder spends much more time in Wales than the present holder is spending, and that this is why people are asking questions whether he is putting the office of Chairman of the Conservative Party before the office of Secretary of State for Wales?

Photo of Mr Peter Thomas Mr Peter Thomas , Hendon South

The right hon. Gentleman knows that that is totally untrue. If anybody looks at my list of engagements in Wales, he will see that, bearing in mind that nobody has been able to leave this House for the last few weeks from Monday to Friday, my visits to Wales from Friday onwards have been pretty consistent. I have visited all parts of Wales since I have become Secretary of State.—[Interruption.]—I have visited Carmarthen—I went to the National Eisteddfod there and I hope shortly to be visiting Carmarthen again officially.

Photo of Sir Anthony Meyer Sir Anthony Meyer , Flintshire West

Would it not help if the right hon. Member for Cardiff, West (Mr. George Thomas) could be induced to ask a different supplementary question one of these Question times? Would not my right hon. and learned Friend agree that the mere fact that a right hon. Gentleman holds the post of Secretary of State full-time does not of itself imply that the office will be satisfactorily filled?

Photo of Mr Neil McBride Mr Neil McBride , Swansea East

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman defer one of his immediate engagements in order to visit Swansea, where we should like to discuss with him the loss of 680 jobs at the Imperial Smelting Corporation? Does not he think that this should be a priority engagement of such merit that he should bring proposals for job restitution? As a Welshman on St. David's Day—[Laughter.]—at least, I am elected in Wales; it is a matter of personal pride that I had nearly 29,000 votes—could the right hon. and learned Gentleman visit Swansea in order to provide the hope for jobs for my constituents, who face a bleak future, and give them what every Welshman has a right to have—the right to work?

Photo of Mr Peter Thomas Mr Peter Thomas , Hendon South

I agree with the hon. Gentleman that this is a very sad and difficult situation. The present need is to find new jobs for the 680 people who are to be redundant. Officials of the Department of Employment, together with officials of my Department and the Department of Trade and Industry, are looking into this matter urgently. As he may know—I do not know whether he has received my letter—I shall be seeing him and the hon. Member for Swansea, West (Mr. Alan Williams) shortly about this matter, and I think that it might be convenient if we were to meet in Cardiff next Friday, as I shall be there then.

Photo of Mr Neil Kinnock Mr Neil Kinnock , Bedwellty

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many official visits he has made to Wales since 2nd November, 1970.

Photo of Mr Neil Kinnock Mr Neil Kinnock , Bedwellty

I am obliged to the right hon. and learned Genttleman for that reply, although the number of visits has not become noticeable to the people of Wales. One is interested in what mode of transport the right hon. and learned Gentleman used. Did he use Government helicopters, with the support of the fire brigade and the police, or is that privilege reserved solely for the Minister of State? Can he tell us, in view of the statement made by the Minister of State to the Sunday Express, what disaster occurred in the first few weeks of February which justified the use of a helicopter?

Photo of Mr Peter Thomas Mr Peter Thomas , Hendon South

My hon. Friend the Minister of State was needed in London very quickly on that occasion. I go by train to Cardiff and Swansea and on occasion by aeroplane to North Wales. I find that I can get to North Wales Hawarden in 30 minutes from Heathrow.