---

Economic Downturn (Unemployment)

Thank you, Mr. Key. In view of the time, I will try to run through the issues that I want to mention as quickly as possible. Of course, I will do so in the spirit of trying to make the best of what we all recognise is a body of questionable legitimacy, in terms of its purpose and also, of course, because of the truncated time in which we are operating. First, I have to say that I am rather troubled by the Minister’s opening remarks, particularly with regard to his view that in effect accepted the position that the Government have perpetually held to, which is that they see the process of devolution as holding on for dear life rather than letting go. After all, it is up to communities to come together to decide for themselves what region and regional identity they particularly want to bring forward, rather than having those decisions made in a back room in Whitehall and then foisted on them. So we must question the legitimacy of the bodies that the Government have created, and of course they have created them for administrative convenience. Hence my use of the expression, ““the Government zone of the south-west””, rather than ““region””, because ““region”” implies internal integrity and community of interest. My hon. Friend the Member for Northavon quite rightly raised a question with the Minister earlier which is relevant to the future economy of the Government zone of the south-west. That question was about the legitimacy of the regional spatial strategy, which is currently logjammed as a result of a legal challenge in the east of England. However, if the Minister has any impact at all on Government policy, it would be helpful to have some reassurance that he is speaking to other Ministers about this issue and ensuring that, in fact, the purpose of the RSS is maintained. After all, that purpose is to deliver what the Government want to deliver, which I think we would all agree is to address the housing needs of the United Kingdom as a whole and those local communities served by local plans. In fact, he must not confuse means with ends. The Government have decided that the way to meet local housing needs is to set unfeasible targets. In Cornwall, for example, we have doubled the housing stock in the past 40 years and yet the housing problems of local people have got dramatically worse. Simply heaping thousands more houses on a local community does not necessarily address housing need. I hope that the Minister will allow greater devolution so that local authorities can determine for themselves how best to meet that need. I mentioned the Competition Commission’s inquiry into the grocery sector, and I hope that the Minister will come back to me on the issue, as well as taking it up with the relevant Secretaries of State. If he wishes to have an effect—I mention this just so that he can give me a nod rather than make an intervention in support—he will, I hope, help me to ensure that the freight and ferry link from Penzance to the Isles of Scilly is re-timetabled, because the timetable may well be constraining its ability to proceed. There has been a lot of talk about a low-carbon economy in the south-west, and today’s Western Morning News mentions the wave hub off the north coast of my constituency. However, the paper notes that one of the companies involved—Orecon from Bodmin—has reported that it will now manufacture the necessary products not in the UK but in Portugal, because the Portuguese have been much more aggressive in seeking the business. Government intervention to support businesses engaged in the wave hub will be very important. Many issues have been raised in the debate, and I hope that the Minister will be able to come back to hon. Members to demonstrate the effectiveness of his role.