§ 26. Mr. J. Griffithsasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will re-schedule the area of Llanelly and district under the provisions of the Local Employment Act, 1960, in view of the increase in unemployment in the area and the further increase consequent upon the closing of the Bynea steel works and the Royal Ordnance factory at Pembrey.
§ Mr. N. MacphersonYes, Sir. In the opinion of my right hon. Friend, Llanelly is again threatened with high unemployment which is likely to persist. He has therefore decided, after consultation with the Minister for Welsh Affairs, to restore it to the list of development districts.
§ Mr. GriffithsSince some time must elapse between the re-scheduling of an area and the establishment there of new industries, will the hon. Member in the meantime take steps, with his colleagues the Secretary of State for War and the Minister of Power, to prevent or postpone the closure of the Royal Ordnance Factory, where, between now and the end of the year, 800 men will be made redundant, and the Bynea Steel Works, where 750 men will be made redundant? Will he bear in mind that in both cases half of those who will be rendered redundant are over 50 years of age, and that this is becoming one of the most urgent problems in this and similar areas where redundancy exists?
§ Mr. MacphersonI am aware of the problem of the factory at Pembrey, which has been discussed with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War, but I am prepared to ask him to look at it again.
§ Mr. GowerIs my hon. Friend aware that the news of the decision that he has announced will be received with satisfaction in areas in South Wales which are not affected like Llanelly? They recognise that this area of Wales has a short-term problem, which we hope will be settled very shortly.