Oral Answers to Questions

Stephen Mosley Excerpts

Wednesday 2nd February 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. Far too many private conversations are taking place in the Chamber. I want to hear Stephen Mosley.

[Stephen Mosley (City of Chester) (Con)]

8. What discussions she has had with the Welsh Assembly Government and other stakeholders on steps to attract inward investment into north-east Wales.

[The Secretary of State for Wales (Mrs Cheryl Gillan)]

I have regular discussions with Welsh Assembly Government Ministers and other stakeholders on a range of issues affecting Wales, including attracting inward investment.

[Stephen Mosley]

North-east Wales and Chester share the single economic sub-region that straddles the Anglo-Welsh border, so inward investment in north-east Wales benefits Chester too. What action is the Secretary of State taking to ensure that local authorities and the new local enterprise partnerships in England, over the border, support much-needed inward investment in north-east Wales?

[Mrs Gillan]

My hon. Friend knows that I am very keen on inward investment. One of the things I did in the past two weeks was visit the Deeside hub to look, in particular, at the apprentice training taking place at Deeside college. The college has links to large cities such as Manchester and Liverpool, which are established clusters of high technology and innovative business. I am keen to work with the Welsh Assembly Government and other Departments of state to get institutions working together in the interests of the Welsh economy and attracting inward investment to Wales.