asked the Secretary of State for Wales what recent efforts have been made by his Department to attract high technology industry to south Wales.

The attraction of high technology industries to Wales is one of my foremost priorities. I have streamlined the arrangements for attracting investment from overseas to Wales and the new organisation—WlNvest—is fully in business.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether there are any signs of increased overseas investment in the region?

Yes. WlNvest handled no fewer than 47 visits by overseas companies between 1 April and 30 June, and I am pleased to tell the House today that another United States high technology company is establishing its headquarters in Wales. The Comdial corporation, which designs and manufactures telephone terminal equipment, is planning to build a 100,000 sq ft factory at St Mellons, between Cardiff and Newport. The 300 jobs to be created will benefit both communities, and my hon. Friend's constituents are among those who will benefit. The plant will be the most modern of its kind in Europe.

The right hon. Gentleman will recall expressing concern to me some months ago about the lack of high technology investment in south-west Wales. Given the Government's continued failure to attract such investment, from which future employment will come, is not the right hon. Gentleman sentencing that part of south Wales to very low employment levels in future.?

I do not believe that that is true. We are already seeing a marked extension of the high technology corridor along the M4, a further phase of which I have just announced. It is clear from the number of active inquiries and applications for SFA and other assistance before us at present that the level of activity is growing and spreading. As it spreads, I am sure that south-west Wales will benefit.