§ 16. Mr. Andersonasked the Secretary of State for Wales what were the male unemployment figures in Swansea at the latest available date; and what were the figures for the equivalent months since 1978.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsOn 10 January 1985 the male unemployment figure for the Swansea travel-to-work area was 13,816. Comparable figures for earlier years are not available because of changes to travel-to-work area boundaries and the move to claimant-based figures.
§ Mr. AndersonHave not male unemployment figures in the Swansea area increased by roughly three times since 1979, when they stood at about 8 per cent.? They are now almost 23 per cent. Does the Secretary of State recall that when he was Opposition spokesman there was a large advertisement in Swansea in 1979 which read, "Labour is not working"? Is he not now ashamed of the con trick which over the years has led to three times the male unemployment of 1979?
§ Mr. EdwardsWe must all be anxious about rising unemployment. The hon. Gentleman was no doubt worried when it rose steeply under the Labour Administration that he supported. He will be aware that we have been taking a number of measures, particularly in his constituency, to attract new investment and jobs. There have been notable successes through the urban programme in regenerating the lower Swansea Valley, and the enterprise zone there is proving a considerable success.