§ 43. Mr. J. Griffithsasked the Minister of Labour what are the reasons for the serious decline in the number of insured workers in employment over the past five years in the areas covered by the employment exchanges at Amman-ford and Garnant.
Mr- WhitelawThe main reason has been the decrease in coalmining employment in the Garnant area, but there have 916 also been smaller decreases in employment in the metal goods, brick and hosiery industries in the Ammanford area.
§ Mr. GriffithsWill the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that this decrease in the number of people in employment, apart from the fact that there is also a high rate of unemployment, casts a great burden on local authorities which have built up local services for a larger population? Will the hon. Gentleman also remember that if the young people have to go away it may come about one of these days that we shall not have the boys and men to enter the coalmining industry, with serious subsequent effect on that industry?
§ Mr. WhitelawI certainly accept the point which the right hon. Gentleman, with his unrivalled knowledge of the area, has made, and I will bear it in mind.