HC Deb 20 January 1976 vol 903 cc1109-11
1. Sir A. Meyer

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he is satisfied that the Government's measures for relieving unemployment are proving effective in the North Wales area.

The Under-Secretary of State for Employment (Mr. John Fraser)

I am satisfied that the various Government measures to alleviate the worst effects of unemployment have been of considerable benefit to North Wales. These measures were not, of course, designed to solve the problem of unemployment, which I recognise is still a matter of serious concern.

Sir A. Meyer

I am not at all satisfied with that answer. Is the hon. Gentleman aware that male unemployment in the Rhyl area has now reached 18.9 per cent. and that the Government's much publicised job creation programme, including the construction of advance factories, many of which now stand empty, is having no effect other than to impose additional tax burdens on private industry? Is he further aware that the result is that for every job created or saved by the Government, two or three jobs are lost in the private sector? Is not the whole programme a cruel hoax on the unemployed?

Mr. Fraser

I agree about the seriousness of the figures. Throughout North Wales as a whole, unemployment was 11.4 per cent. last month. However, I do not agree that the measures have not had some effect. Job creation in North Wales has provided 210 jobs, the recruitment subsidy has provided 237 jobs and the temporary employment subsidy has saved 150 jobs. A total of 23 advance factories have been approved. Help under the Industry Act 1972 in Wales as a whole has saved or created 31,000 jobs. I do not believe that these are wasted measures. They are worth while and welcome.

Mr. Heffer

Is my hon. Friend aware that whatever happens in North Wales badly affects Merseyside, where unemployment has just risen from 74,477 to 82,280—an increase of 7,803, representing an increase from 9.9 per cent. to 10.9 per cent. in one month? Is it not clear that the Government's measures are not adequate to deal with unemployment? May I draw to the attention of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment the fact that it is no use just talking about the situation being deplorable; we know it is deplorable. Is my hon. Friend aware that we need some positive action by the Government to bring down unemployment, otherwise the Labour movement in this country will not stand for it much longer?

Mr. Fraser

There is a later Question on unemployment on Merseyside. In my reply I did not pretend that the Government's measures had removed the fundamental underlying problems of unemployment, but the measures are unprecedented in their size and make a useful contribution to dealing with some of the worst effects, particularly among young people.

Mr. Gwynfor Evans

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in the whole of Wales, the number of unemployed has increased by 13,208 in one month, to the scandalous total of 86,796, and that Wales still has the highest percentage unemployment of ail the regions and countries of this island, despite the heavy emigration from Wales? Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that these figures provide 86,796 good reasons why Wales must have an Assembly with economic and industrial powers of legislation?

Mr. Fraser

It would be as well if I were not drawn into a devolution debate—a subject that has occupied the House during the past week. The figures in Wales are unacceptably high, but the result of regional policies has been that unemployment in Wales and other hard-pressed regions of the country has increased rather less than in the more prosperous regions, though I am not complacent about that.