Caernarvonshire

HC Deb 10 November 1960 vol 629 cc1202-3

18. Mr. G. Roberts

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the continuing high unemployment in south Caernarvonshire; and what plans he has for alleviating the position by inducing new industries to come to this area.

Mr. Maudling

Yes, Sir. The facilities of the Local Employment Act are available for the area and my officers will continue to bring it to the attention of any suitable firm showing an interest in developing in North Wales.

Mr. Roberts

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the rate of unemployment in south Caernarvonshire continues to run among the highest in the United Kingdom and that it constitutes a special problem calling for special action? Is he satisfied that his Department is showing the requisite energy and sense of urgency in tackling the problem, particularly at a time when the position is worsening instead of improving and when unemployment in this part of Caernarvon-shire is probably running at about 10 per cent. of the insured population?

Mr. Maudling

The hon. Gentleman is right in saying that this is a special problem. The percentage is high, but the numbers involved are small, which means that it is difficult to find a suitable industrial undertaking to go to that area, though we shall certainly continue to do our best. I had hoped that the success which we have recently had with some of our efforts in the northern part would show that we are giving all the attention we ought to do to the problems of northern Wales.

Mr. Roberts

I do not think the numbers are as small as the right hon. Gentleman imagines, and they are growing every month. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that at the moment there are between 800 and 1,000 unemployed in the small town and district of Pwllheli? Surely, if there were sufficient energy in his Department, some new industry could be introduced into the area to take care of that unemployment?

Mr. Maudling

The figures that I have show that unemployment in the Portmadoc-Pwllheli district has fallen from 609 in October, 1959, to 451 in October, 1960; so we are making progress.