Mr Jeffrey Thomas: My hon. Friend the Member for Colne Valley (Mr. David Clark) may have touched on the real mischief of the Bill. It is neither wholly good nor wholly bad; it is a kind of mongrel Bill. The Government have lost an opportunity of speaking with a clear voice about the real problems affecting thousands of people not only in the South Wales valleys but in the country as a whole. It seems that,...
Mr Jeffrey Thomas: Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that the unemployment situation is now so grave that he can no longer fall back on bromides and platitudes to explain it? Is he not losing credibility in the Principality because of his absurd and continued suggestion that the situation is the fault of the Previous Government? Is he not aware that the time has now come for his Government to...
Mr Jeffrey Thomas: asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will hold an inquiry into the reasons for the closure of the maternity unit at Nantyglo and Blaina Hospital; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Jeffrey Thomas: Is the Minister aware of the grave anxiety which certain allegations by the Welsh Hospital Board have caused in the area? Will he give an assurance that, should the situation at St. James's prove to be one where they cannot cope with the need, the position will be re-examined?
Mr Jeffrey Thomas: On a point of order. Is there not a limit to the number of times that a speech can be repeated in this House?
Mr Jeffrey Thomas: Would not the hon. and learned Gentleman agree that the result of Clause 28 is to make confusion confounded? I have in mind, in particular, the situation in which judges will find themselves in trying to sum up complicated cases of this kind to a jury.
Mr Jeffrey Thomas: I am grateful for this opportunity of bringing to the attention of the House the decision of the Welsh Regional Hospital Board, a decision somewhat surprisingly concurred in at present by the Secretary of State for Wales, to close the maternity unit at Nantyglo and Blaina Hospital in my constituency. I raise this matter in the real hope that common sense will yet prevail and that this piece...
Mr Jeffrey Thomas: The situation then was different. In the first instance, there were only eight beds in the Nantyglo maternity unit, as opposed to fourteen now; and in the second place, it was not then envisaged by the then Secretary of State that there would have to be a second maternity unit opened in order to provide the extra beds required because St. James's could not provide an adequate number.
Mr Jeffrey Thomas: I ask for the indulgence of the House as I make my maiden speech. I hope that the House will forgive me if, by chance, I make any remarks which could be construed as controversial and that it will remember that we are dealing with very controversial matters. I congratulate the hon. Member for Reading (Dr. Vaughan) on the fluency and sincerity of his maiden speech, although he will understand...
