Even more urgent than the problems raised yesterday is that of local government in Wales. The Government have the report on this subject. This report—and I am not the only one who holds this opinion—means the utter disintegration, and, in fact, destruction, of local government in Wales. I know that I am speaking for most of my Welsh colleagues in asking for an assurance that whatever may be the contents of that report the Government will take no steps to implement any of its proposals or recommendations until at least Welsh Members of Parliament have had an opportunity again on the Floor of the House to debate, discuss and possibly oppose the attitude that may be adopted by the Government.
Unless we can have that assurance I shall certainly not support the Motion.
4.20 p.m.
Mr. Raymond Gower (Barry) I want to say a few words in support of the Motion. For several months groups of people all over the country have been expressing their fear and anxiety about the nature of atomic tests. I should have thought that hon. Members would be anxious to be released from this place in order that they might go all over the country explaining to people the valuable step that has now been taken to release them from that danger. I would have thought that the reassurance which hon. Members could bring to several groups in their constituencies would be of prime importance, and that the extent of our economic recovery would also have been a matter of reassurance to people who have been anxious about the problems of unemployment in certain parts of the country and the extent of our economic malaise.
Hon. Members, now shortly to be released from this House, could convey to their constituents the fact that their fears were misconceived, that the policy of the Government has been admirably successful, and that there are great opportunities, particularly for exporters, in the future. In view of all those factors I should have thought that it would be most important that hon. Members should be released at the earliest date.
4.21 p.m.
Mr. James Callaghan (Cardiff, South-East)
The hon. Member for Barry (Mr. Gower) speaks with his tongue in his cheek. It is something that he does very frequently. It makes his contributions no less attractive, but he will not mind if we do not take them as seriously as others less well equipped might do—because we know that he does not mean them.
My hon. Friends have raised a number of important questions. The question of the TSR2, about which considerable doubt has been expressed, is a matter on which the Government should say something further before we rise. We cannot be blamed for being suspicious, in view of what has happened on previous occasions when expensive Government projects which have been boosted to the skies and lauded as the latest achievements of a beneficent Administration have been abandoned as soon as Parliament has gone into recess. I understand that the TSR2 has cost about £200 million. Doubts have been cast on the question whether the project will continue. It will be reprehensible if the Government were to allow Parliament to depart and then to make an announcement, during our absence, knowing that they cannot be challenged.
My hon. Friends have raised the questions of Malta, Malaysia, the Denning report and housing, and all these show the difficulties of our unfinished business. I want to mention something else. The hon. Member for Barry spoke of our economic recovery. I hope that he is not speaking too soon. We have had a lamentable year this year in relation to unemployment. Thank goodness, it is lower this month that it has been for some time, although still higher than it was twelve months ago, but I forecast that we have seen the lowest level of unemployment this year, and that it is 256 highly likely that the unemployment figure will continue to rise over the next few months [HON. MEMBERS: "No."] We shall see.
