HC Deb 30 November 1967 vol 755 cc613-5
4. Mr. Elystan Morgan

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of new jobs that will be created in Wales by 1970 under the new measures announced on 14th November.

The Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Cledwyn Hughes)

The new trading estate land could produce eventually some 19,000 jobs but it is too early to estimate how many of these jobs will become available by 1970 nor the effect by them of the other special measures announced a fortnight ago.

Mr. Morgan

I thank my right hon. Friend for that reply. May I ask whether he concedes the case for the extension of this second-tier assistance to other areas which find it very difficult to attract industry?

Mr. Hughes

I take it that my hon. Friend is referring to Mid-Wales. As he knows, I am anxious to see a healthy rate of industrial development in Mid-Wales, and facilities have been made available there to encourage this. My hon. Friend will know that part of the land in the New Town designation area is planned for industrial development.

5. Mr. Gwynfor Evans

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of new jobs needed in Wales by 1971 in order that unemployment should be reduced and migration avoided.

Mr. Cledwyn Hughes

The White Paper (Cmnd. 3334) which I presented in July sets out the employment prospects for Wales and the assumptions on which they were based. Since those estimates were made last March, the prospects for 1971 have been improved by the regional employment premium, decisions to disperse Government establishments to Wales and other Government measures.

Mr. Evans

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that apart from the 42,000 persons in Wales who are today unemployed, and apart from the rapid rundown in our basic industries, we have had a hidden unemployment of about 97,000 people due to the wretchedly low employment activity rate in Wales? Would not a more realistic assessment be somewhere nearer 150,000 new jobs by 1971?

Mr. Hughes

I cannot accept the hon. Gentleman's figures, nor do I know where he got them. We are confident that the measures which we are taking will resolve our problems over the next five years.