§ 30. Mr. Fred Evansasked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what is the current rate of male unemployment in the Bargoed and Caerphilly employment exchange areas.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithAt 8th June the rates of unemployment for men in the Bargoed and Caerphilly travel-to-work areas were 7.6 and 8.0 per cent. Respectively.
§ Mr. EvansDoes the hon. Gentleman appreciate that these mining areas are threatened with further pit closures and that without the previous Government's 1716 incentive policy of attracting industry to these areas the percentage would be much higher? Will he exert all his influence with the Prime Minister to give a clear assurance to the people of these areas in Wales that the previous policy will be continued until the situation has been completely remedied?
§ Mr. SmithThe question of pit closures is not for me, but I draw some encouragement from the fact that the June total of registered unemployed in this area was the lowest for any June since 1966.