HC Deb 08 February 1988 vol 127 cc9-11
9. Mr. Roy Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the latest unadjusted figures for unemployment in (a) Newport, (b) Gwent and (c) Wales; and if he will give the equivalent figures for 1979 on the most nearly comparable basis.

Mr. Peter Walker

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 18 January.

Mr. Hughes

Does the Secretary of State appreciate that good communications are vital for attracting new jobs to areas such as Gwent? Does he also appreciate that the Severn bridge has been paid for many times over? If £180 million can be wiped off the Humber bridge debt, surely there is now a strong case for toll-free motoring on the M4, or is the Secretary of State going along with the Secretary of State for Transport, who now seems intent on imposing tolls on so much of our road network?

Mr. Walker

I am sure that the hon. Gentleman would not like the tolls on the Severn bridge to be increased to the level of those on the Humber bridge, but if he would, he should make that clear. The tolls on the Humber bridge are much higher than those on the Severn bridge. I should add that the tolls on the Severn bridge were imposed during a period of Labour Government and were maintained by the previous Labour Government. Therefore, I find it rather bogus for the Labour party now to say that they should be abolished.

Mr. Coleman

The Minister will be aware of the blow dealt to my constituency by the announcement of the closure of Abernant colliery, and the considerable unemployment that it will bring if it goes ahead. The NUM has invoked a procedure that will mean a delay of nine months. Will the Minister use those nine months to secure for the Abernant valley alternative and adequate employment?

Mr. Walker

Certainly. I have already announced a programme of additional factory building and massively increased regional aid that is to take place in the next three years. That will be considerable help in job creation in those areas. I am glad to say that the local authority leaders in those areas very much appreciate that.

Mr. Ray Powell

Will the Secretary of State take note that earlier today I attended the UK 2,000 celebration in Cardiff, where I was presented by Richard Branson with a certificate from the Community Activities Training Organisation, of which I am chairman. Will he take note that, perhaps because he is a stranger to Wales, he has omitted the whole of the Ogwr borough and the valley from the Valleys initiative? Unemployment in Ogwr has increased from 3–7 per cent. in 1979 to 18.7 per cent. at present. Despite that increase, the Secretary of State and his Department have omitted the Ogwr valley from the Valleys initiative.

Mr. Walker

The hon. Gentleman should await the announcement of the areas that are to be designated for the Valleys initiative.

Sir Raymond Gower

Bearing in mind the comments of the right hon. Member for Swansea, West (Mr. Williams) to the effect that the Severn crossing is a vital lifeline for Welsh industry, may I ask whether my right hon. Friend is satisfied with the progress being made to achieve a second crossing? Does he agree that it is most necessary?

Mr. Walker

Yes. It is important that the second crossing is in place by the mid-1990s. All projections have estimated that it will be in place by then. I am delighted that consultants have been appointed on a contract that has been made aimed at speeding up their decisions and their advice. It is vital for Wales that the Severn crossing is in place in good time.

Mr. Wigley

Is the Secretary of State aware that the worst unadjusted unemployment figures in Wales last month were for Pwllheli, which has a rate of 24.7 per cent.? Yet Pwllheli is not even a development area. While welcoming the announcement of the reaction to the redundancies at Llangefni, may I ask the Secretary of State to say what steps will be taken by the WDA and by his Department to overcome the regular and cyclical unemployment that exists in places such as Pwllheli?

Mr. Walker

I am anxious that positive steps are taken in such areas, such as those I have discussed with the WDA and the Mid-Wales Development. A combination of those in the more rural areas of Wales will lead to a range of policies that add to the momentum of new business initiatives.

Mr. Riddick

Does my right hon. Friend agree that unemployment in Wales could be reduced still further if the NUM were to accept a six-day working week, so that British Coal could proceed with the £90 million investment in the new coal mine at Margam?

Mr. Walker

I am pleased to say that the announcements made last week by British Coal made it absolutely clear that it was prepared to go ahead with Margam and all the jobs that that would create. It expressed the hope that the NUM will quickly agree to negotiate a six-day working week. If that does not take place there will be a sad and unnecessary loss of jobs to Wales.

Mr. Flynn

Is the Secretary of State aware of the reported delegation led by the hon. Member for Macclesfied (Mr. Winterton) to the Department of Trade and Industry to plead against the relocation of Government jobs to Wales? What action does he intend to take to ensure that the opposite view is presented to the Department of Trade and Industry, so that the jobs are relocated in Wales to give that area a boost in jobs?

Mr. Walker

Not for the first time, I disagree with my hon. Friend the Member for Macclesfield (Mr. Winterton). I can say only that we have pointed out the considerable advantages to Wales and to all the people who work there.