Mr Peter Thomas: The question refers to school building in Gwent. If the hon. Gentleman cares to put down a Question about Swansea, I shall be happy to answer it.
Mr Peter Thomas: Again, if the hon. Gentleman will put down a Question relating to the whole country I shall answer it. Improvements will be deferred unless they can be related to basic needs. This is where the cuts will be found in the education programme, apart from procurement.
Mr Peter Thomas: The cuts will be flat-rate cuts, both on capital and procurement, throughout the whole of Wales.
Mr Peter Thomas: A new access road has been suggested which would connect with the roundabout at the Eastern Avenue—A470 trunk road interchange at Gabalfa.
Mr Peter Thomas: My hon. Friend knows because I have already written to him on this matter, that I am anxious to be helpful, and I have offered to contribute towards the cost of certain traffic lights. Earlier proposals put forward by the city were open to a number of objections. I am considering the city's present proposals carefully to see how far those objections are overcome.
Mr Peter Thomas: I have had letters from staff interests and from hon. Members. Replies have varied according to the nature of the representations. I have at all times urged that staff should be kept fully informed and consulted on all matters that affect them.
Mr Peter Thomas: I appreciate that there is anxiety among the staff. The matter was referred to at some length when the hon. Gentleman wrote to my hon. Friend the Minister of State, and I do not think I can add anything to the somewhat lengthy reply which my hon. Friend gave on 10th January.
Mr Peter Thomas: I understand that there have been complaints on this matter, but I am satisfied that the medical representation is adequate.
Mr Peter Thomas: The right hon. Gentleman does not assist by exaggerating. I do not agree that morale is at rock level. I agree that concern has been expressed, but one thing I am very happy about is that the staff commission which has been at work has met very little criticism.
Mr Peter Thomas: With notice, I shall be happy to answer that question.
Mr Peter Thomas: I am satisfied that the Welsh Hospital Board has taken full account of the needs of West Monmouthshire in its planning.
Mr Peter Thomas: I said I was satisfied that the Welsh Hospital Board had taken full account of the needs. After 1st April it will fall to the Gwent area health authority in the first place to consider the issues that the hon. Member has mentioned today. I have no doubt that it will take full account of what he has said.
Mr Peter Thomas: What does that mean?
Mr Peter Thomas: The right hon. Member for Cardiff, West (Mr. George Thomas) suggested that I have had a bad hour listening to the debate. I join issue with him on that. I have thoroughly enjoyed the debate, and I, too, pay tribute to the hon. Member for Swansea, East (Mr. McBride) for having introduced the subject, which is very important to us in Wales. The right hon. Gentleman very courteously, as I would...
Mr Peter Thomas: We have had these discussions before. The right hon. Gentleman knows perfectly well that an incoming Government inherit the programme initiated several years before by their predecessors. His Government inherited a good, rising housing programme, and failed to carry out the programme in their manifesto. The right hon. Gentleman also knows perfectly well that I inherited a declining programme....
Mr Peter Thomas: In so doing we emphasised repeatedly that it was a once-and-for-all-extension.
Mr Peter Thomas: Ministers stressed the need for all concerned to press ahead as quickly as possible to derive the maximum advantage from the increased grants. Hon. Members will remember that a circular was issued at the time to all local authorities which made it clear that it was a once-and-for-all extension.
Mr Peter Thomas: I think that the housing situation was well appreciated. It was not considered that the extension of the Act, which referred only to assisted areas, was the answer. It was considered necessary to have a housing policy to meet the real needs to which reference has been made. It was our intention that the 1971 Act should induce a short, sharp boost in house improvement capacity. That was...
Mr Peter Thomas: I see the hon. Gentleman's point, but there was no overheating in the building industry in 1971 when the Act was passed. Indeed, the Act was passed to meet the problem, and the idea was to give a boost to economic activity in the assisted areas. I mentioned that the legislation had been a success. The current level of improvement activity in Wales has never been equalled. The hon. Member for...
Mr Peter Thomas: Perhaps I may have misunderstood the hon. Gentleman, but he may be interested in having those figures. Up to 1970 improvement grants awarded in Wales held steady at 7,000 to 8,000 a year. In 1972 the figure rose to 28,000, four times that number. Although I have not the final figures available, it is almost certain that in 1973 the number of improvement grants awarded will exceed 30,000. Of...