HC Deb 18 January 1982 vol 16 cc5-7
4. Mr. Barry Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Wales by how many and by what percentage the total unemployed has risen in Wales since May 1979.

The Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Nicholas Edwards)

At 10 December 1981 the seasonally adjusted level of unemployment was 158,700, an increase of 77,300, or 95 per cent., over the corresponding level at May 1979.

Mr. Barry Jones

With the certainty that unemployment totals in the United Kingdom will go steeply beyond 3 million, which will have serious consequences for Wales this year, does the Secretary of State believe that the Nissan car plant will be located in Wales? Does the right hon. Gentleman know that, to those unemployed in Wales, his approach to unemployment appears to be laggardly and unconvincing?

Mr. Edwards

I can give no information about the location of the Nissan car plant, because that is a decision for the company. The company has not told the Government whether it will go ahead with the project, nor has it stated a preference. As to the suggestion that we have a laggardly approach, we are in the middle of by far the greatest programme of site development and factory building ever undertaken in Wales. Factory allocations, the space occupied and the number of jobs provided all reached record levels during the past year.

Mr. Wigley

Is the Secretary of State aware of the complete failure of the Welsh Office to supply jobs to replace the 2,000 being lost in the Dinorwic pump storage scheme in Gwynedd? Is he further aware of the concern expressed by Gwynedd county council last week about the danger to the North Wales railway line from the threatened rundown of Sealink at Holyhead? Will he consider those matters and meet the county council as a matter of urgency?

Mr. Edwards

I cannot accept that the Government are in a position to supply jobs in the way suggested by the hon. Member, but I have agreed to meet Gwynedd county council and local authority representatives to discuss the problems faced in Gwynedd. Nor do I accept the hon. Gentleman's comment about the rundown of Holyhead. If the B and I Line is to operate out of that port that will bring many helpful opportunities in the future.

Mr. Grist

How many of today's visibly unemployed were yesterday's hidden unemployed in the shape of appalling productivity figures in Britain?

Mr. Edwards

Undoubtedly there have been striking improvements in productivity. One has only to consider the performance of the great steel plants at Llanwern and Port Talbot, with the manning levels there and in many other factories, to realise that a transformation has taken place. Those factories have become enormously more competitive, which gives a real opportunity for economic recovery.

Mr. Rowlands

Is the Secretary of State aware that one response to unemployment in the Heads of the Valleys is to set up a pilot project to interrogate the unemployed about their availability for work, and that this is causing great resentment? Has the Secretary of State seen the questionaire put out under the pilot project, which asks for the personal and domestic circumstances of every unemployed individual, behind which is the threat that unemployment benefit will be withdrawn? Does the form have any statutory basis? If not, will the Secretary of State suggest that no individual should complete it?

Mr. Edwards

The form is not issued by my Department and I am not responsible for it. However. the hon. Gentleman must know that it is helpful for us to have as much information as possible about the individuals concerned.

Sir Anthony Meyer

Does my right hon. Friend agree that the reason for Nissan or any other major foreign investor coming to Wales is that it can sell its products from Wales throughout the EEC? Does he further agree that such vast inward investment is gravely endangered by Opposition threats, which fortunately everyone now realise will never be carried out?

Mr. Edwards

I agree with my hon. Friend that it would be a disaster for Wales if it was believed that Britain was leaving the EEC. The massive inward investment that we have attracted, such as Mitel, which will provide about 2,000 jobs, would be lost to Wales.

Mr. Alec Jones

The Secretary of State referred to the efforts being made by the workers at the Port Talbot and Llanwern steelworks. Can he assure the House that the deplorable unemployment figures, for which the Government are responsible and which were announced earlier this afternoon, will not be increased further by more closures in the steel industry in Wales? Will the Secretary of State tell Mr. MacGregor that we have had enough and that the Welsh steel industry has borne more than its fair share of steel closures? Does he agree that the efforts of the men at Port Talbot and Llanwern, especially during the past week, have earned them the right to exemption from further cuts?

Mr. Edwards

The British Steel Corporation has paid tribute to the magnificent contribution of those who succeeded in reaching the steel plants during the bad weather or who were unable to get out of them. I join in those tributes. The improved competitiveness of those plants provides the best prospect for their future. During the past week the chairman of the British Steel Corporation has drawn attention to the consequences of events in America and to the financial position of the corporation. There is no doubt that some losses, although we do not know how much, will be suffered at Port Talbot as a result of the bad weather. However, I do not believe that that event of itself will affect the future prospects of the plants. In the long run it depends on their being competitive with other steel plants in Europe, and the plants have achieved that competitiveness in the past year.

5. Mr. Roy Hughes

asked the Secretary of State far Wales what is the increase in male unemployment in Gwent since May 1980 expressed in percentage and numerical terms.

Mr. Nicholas Edwards

At 10 December 1981 male unemployment showed an increase of 9,437, or 87.2 per cent., over the corresponding level at May 1980.

Mr. Hughes

Has the Secretary of State considered that further job losses could occur if the port of Bristol's application for Government financial assistance is granted, as it would enable it further to undercut the South Wales ports? Is he aware of the statement of the Conservative leader in Bristol calling for the closure of Newport and Barry docks? Will he speak up for Welsh interests?

Mr. Edwards

People in all parties speak for their local interests. However, the decision will be taken not by the leader of the Conservative council in Bristol but by the Government, who will take full and proper account of the important role of the South Wales ports.

Mr. Abse

As the Secretary of State for Employment emphasises that the appalling weather conditions will exacerbate unemployment, and as no other district in Wales, except perhaps the Secretary of State's county, has suffered more than Gwent, will the right hon. Gentleman say what money he intends to put at the disposal of local authorities to deal with the problems of unemployment resulting from the weather? Or does he still stubbornly say that many local authorities will not have a penny to deal with the ravages of the weather?

Mr. Edwards

The Government have already announced that exceptional expenditure over and above the product of a penny rate will be met by the Government. Such financial provision is entirely in line with precedent and exactly in accordance with the practice followed by the previous Government in the 1978–79 crisis.