HC Deb 25 March 1985 vol 76 cc8-10
7. Mr. Roy Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many people are unemployed in (a) Gwent and (b) Wales compared with 1979 as a total and a percentage; and of the total unemployed, how many are long-term unemployed.

Mr. Nicholas Edwards

On 14 February 1985 there were 29,350 unemployed claimants in Gwent. A comparable claimant-based figure for 1979 in Gwent is not available. On 14 February 1985 there were 183,806 unemployed claimants in Wales, an increase of 113.6 per cent. over the estimated figure of 86,044 for the same date in 1979.

In February 1985, 12,579 had been unemployed in Gwent for over one year. For Wales the figure was 75,964. That is the figure that I should have given to the hon. Member for Pontypridd (Mr. John).

Mr. Hughes

When will the Government make a really determined attempt to remedy this terrible unemployment, bearing in mind that the Budget is already a busted flush? The Secretary of State has dangled the bait of Concast over the Llanwern steelworks for long enough. When will he deliver the goods?

Mr. Edwards

I have not dangled the bait of Concast. That is a matter for the management of the steel industry, which has not yet taken decisions on Concast. I understand that it is considering that important programme. I remind the hon. Gentleman of the massive scale of investment in the Llanwern area to provide factories and the infrastructure for jobs since the rundown of the Llanwern steelworks.

Sir Raymond Gower

Is it not a fact that included in the figures is some unemployment which has been caused by the impact of the coal strike? Is my right hon. Friend aware that some of the smaller companies which supply the National Coal Board have suffered rather seriously and that there has been a consequential loss of employment in that sector, too?

Mr. Edwards

Undoubtedly there have been severe consequential effects, especially in Wales. I hope that we shall see a recovery during the current year, as energetic efforts are made to restore the NCB's operations in Wales. I can tell my hon. Friend that between 1983 and 1984 there seems to have been an above-average increase in Wales in the numbers of self-employed and small businesses starting up. Undoubtedly, these are encouragng trends.

Mr. Foot

Is the Secretary of State aware that last week the Chancellor of the Exchequer repeated his claim that we are now in the fourth year of economic recovery? Does the right hon. Gentleman claim that that applies to Wales, especially to those parts which have had over 20 per cent. unemployment throughout the four years?

Mr. Edwards

We face a problem of rising output and investment at a time when the same output can be produced by fewer people. That means that the two statements are not incompatible. If the right hon. Gentleman does not understand that by now, it is hard to see how I can make the point to him again so that he does.

Sir Anthony Meyer

Is my right hon. Friend in a position to assess the number of jobs in British Rail that have been lost because of the refusal of the railway unions to carry material supplies through to Llanwern, and to comment on the attitude of the hon. Member for Newport, East (Mr. Hughes) during the dispute?

Mr. Edwards

Undoubtedly business has been lost by the railways. We shall have to see whether that business can be recovered. I think I am right in saying that as a result of the coal strike about £25 million has been added to the loss made by the railways.

Mr. Ray Powell

Is the Secretary of State aware that in Ogmore there are 8,000 out of work and that last Friday there were 101 vacancies available at the jobcentre? Is he further aware that the St. John's colliery in Maesteg, where currently 834 miners are employed, is threatened with closure? If the colliery is closed, male unemployment will increase to 45 per cent. in the Maesteg area alone. What effect will the Budget have and what can the Secretary of State do to reduce unemployment and provide a chance in future for the Maesteg area?

Mr. Edwards

The local manager of the Welsh Development Agency has reported an increase of almost 100 per cent. in factory lettings to 140,000 sq ft in the Bridgend area for the 10 months of 1984–85 compared with the whole of 1983–84. A great deal of new investment is being made in the area, and that will help to provide the jobs that are undoubtedly needed.