HC Deb 26 February 1946 vol 419 cc1735-6
41. Mr. S. O. Davies

asked the Minister of Labour what is the number of unem- ployed persons in the counties of Mon-mouth and Glamorgan and the county borough of Merthyr Tydfil.

The Minister of Labour (Mr. Isaacs)

At 14th January, the latest date for which figures are available, the numbers of unemployed insured persons suitable for ordinary employment on the registers of Employment Exchanges in the counties of Monmouth and Glamorgan and the county borough of Merthyr Tydfil were 8,921, 46,236 and 4,978 respectively.

Mr. Davies

Has my right hon. Friend drawn the attention of the Government to the very heavy incidence of unemployment in that part of the country, and will he use all the pressure that he can to encourage the Government to provide employment there?

Mr. Isaacs

Yes, Sir. The Government's attention has been drawn to that, and as my hon. Friend knows, extensive and successful efforts are being made to secure manufacturers to establish businesses there, but the main difficulty is to get the factories ready for their occupation.