Welsh Affairs

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 9:26 pm on 28 February 1991.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Mr Donald Anderson Mr Donald Anderson Shadow Spokesperson (Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs) 9:26, 28 February 1991

I want to say how much I and, I am sure, other hon. Members enjoyed the valedictory speech of the hon. Member for Clwyd, North-West (Sir A. Meyer). I began my working career, such as it was, in 1960 with the hon. Gentleman as my immediate superior. I learned much at his feet, and I have always held him in the highest regard.

The hon. Member for Caernarfon (Mr. Wigley) spoke about the economy. I follow him in accepting that there is a Welsh question. We need not fear to involve ourselves in a debate on the Welsh question. The need for that to be put on the agenda is a result of a number of developments, such as the degree of centralisation over the past 10 years. Objectively, the United Kingdom is the most rigidly centralised country in western Europe. Just as the European dimension will assume a greater relevance, so the sub-national dimension has to be addressed.

I followed with great interest what my hon. Friends said about training in Wales, which is causing deep anxiety, and I hope that the Secretary of State will study the matter carefully. Even under the most minimal definition of the role of the state, one accepts that training is a vital role for the state and we can claim, in European terms, to be the least trained of all the major European nations.

Hon. Members have referred to the transport infrastructure. They have spoken about the lack of quality in our rail services in comparison with those in, for example, France. I will not go down that track, as I have often done in the past. The railways are an example of the way in which we have failed adequately to provide a proper transport infrastructure.

The Secretary of State is aware that I hope to bring to see him in the next few weeks a deputation from Swansea tenants and from Swansea council about the pre-cast reinforced concrete housing in the city. At this stage, I want to urge on him the fact that it is a major question in the city. There are about 1,300 PRC houses in Swansea. Of those, 850 are on the Blaenymaes-Portmead estate in my constituency and the other 270 are on the Clase estate. A consultant's report has suggested that 1,000 of the houses be demolished. On a demographic basis, about one third of the tenants in the estates are elderly people, many of whom have lived there for a long time. The matter is of immense social importance.

There was anxiety when the Under-Secretary stated his view of the role of public sector housing, that by the end of the decade there should be effectively no local authority housing and that all such housing should be provided by housing associations. Was that just the vapourings of the Under-Secretary, or is it fixed Government policy, certainly as regards Wales? It would be helpful to have clarification from the Minister of State on whether that is the view of the Government or whether, happily, it is confined to the Under-Secretary.

When the Secretary of State meets the delegation on PRC housing, he will hear their anxieties at first hand. I know that he will listen intently, because it is a matter of deep concern. I hope that he will consider in a non-ideological way the mix between local authority and housing association provision. The tenants are grateful to the Secretary of State for his ready response in being prepared to meet the delegation. They look forward to a positive outcome from the meeting.