HC Deb 28 July 1980 vol 989 cc1035-6
16. Mr. D. E. Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the outward migration from Wales in the latest year for which figures are available.

Mr. Nicholas Edwards

It is estimated that in the period July 1978 to June 1979 53,200 people left Wales. In the same period there was an inflow of 58,700. There was thus a net increase of 5,500.

Mr. Thomas

Will the Secretary of State give an age breakdown of the migration flows? How many skilled workers who left Wales, along with their families, are included in that 53,000? How many more workers does the Prime Minister expect to leave Wales following the advice that she gave at Swansea?

Mr. Edwards

Information on the age of migrants is available only from the 1971 census. In 1970–71 there was a net flow of 770 persons over working age, 510 persons of working age and 170 persons under working age. I am afraid that more recent figures are not available.

Mr. Ioan Evans

Does the Secretary of State realise that the young people of Wales will ignore completely what the Prime Minister said about leaving Wales? Is he aware that they will take less notice of her than the Olympic athletes did who went to Moscow to win gold medals?

Mr. Edwards

In her speech the Prime Minister did not urge that people should leave Wales. She recognised that it was the job of Government to mitigate the effects of change. She said that it would be unforgivable if we neglected a single, practical and sensible method to reduce unemployment.

Mr. Heffer

Is the Secretary of State aware that there are 107,000 unemployed on Merseyside, that in the past workers from Merseyside went to North Wales to find employment, and that now, as my hon. Friend the Member for Flint, East (Mr. Jones) said, Shotton is a black spot? Where will the workers go, in either direction? Is it not clear that there are no jobs either in North Wales or on Merseyside, and that there is no future for the workers?

Mr. Edwards

The hon. Gentleman is confirming that we are dealing with a United Kingdom economy, and that within the United Kingdom there must be some movement and some flexibility. He has given the lie totally to the suggestion made repeatedly this afternoon that, in some extraordinary way, an attack has been made on Wales and Welsh workers. There must be mobility within the United Kingdom. The hon. Gentleman knows perfectly well that people are coming on and off the unemployment register and going into jobs all the time.