Question on Economic Situation
26th November 2008
Dr. Hywel Francis (Aberavon) (Lab): I welcome the pre-Budget report, and the help that it gives the Welsh economy. I welcome, too, the Secretary of State's prominent role in Welsh economic summits, and the way in which that has engaged CBI Wales and Wales TUC. In that spirit of co-operation and consultation, I urge the Secretary of State to meet the Welsh automotive forum at the earliest opportunity so that he can hear at first hand its concerns about the future of employment in that sector.
Mr. Murphy: Of course I will do that. As all Welsh Members and other Members will know, the Welsh automotive industry is hugely important. In my constituency, for example, at least 2,000 to 3,000 people work for that industry directly—and a few thousand people indirectly—making brakes. I recently visited Meritor in Cwmbran, and we discussed the impact on the automotive industry of the fact that small businesses could not get money from the banks which, in turn, meant that they could not buy things produced by larger industries. The action we have taken to try to encourage banks to lend to small businesses will have a knock-on effect on the automotive industry, which is a very important point indeed.
