HC Deb 20 February 1989 vol 147 cc703-4
12. Mr. Wigley

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the latest percentage unemployed for (a) Wales and (b) each of the five employment areas with the highest level of unemployment in Wales at that date.

Mr. Peter Walker

On 12 January 1989 the seasonally adjusted unemployed rate in Wales was 9.2 per cent. The unadjusted rates for the five travel-to-work areas with the highest unemployment on 12 January 1989 were Pwllheli, 19.1 per cent.; Cardigan, 18.9 per cent.; south Pembrokeshire, 18.8 per cent.; Aberdare, 18.4 per cent.; and Holyhead, 18.3 per cent. I am pleased to say that unemployment in all these areas has fallen dramatically in the last 12 months—by 21 per cent. in Pwllheli; by 22 per cent. in Cardigan; by 25 per cent. in south Pembrokeshire; by 13 per cent. in Aberdare and by 16 per cent. in Holyhead.

Mr. Wigley

Do not these figures of between 18 and 20 per cent. in unemployment black spots, when compared to the levels of 2 and 3 per cent. in Hertfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire, give the lie to the public relations exercise that the Secretary of State is undertaking which says that the economy of Wales is coming right? Will he now reconsider his advice that local initiative will solve all these problems, given that he has undermined local initiative in the example quoted earlier about people who have been willing to put up £1.7 million of locally raised money for a project which was undermined by the Welsh Office?

Mr. Walker

Obviously, the hon. Gentleman is emotionally carried away by this decision. I think that he should explain—

Mr. Wigley

It matters.

Mr. Walker

I think that he should explain that virtually all the money for that project was to be public expenditure. The local authority and central Government were asked to provide it all.

I mentioned the reduction in unemployment that has taken place in Holyhead, and, while the decrease has riot been as good there as in some other areas, the announcements that I made this morning gave a priority to Holyhead. I suggest that the hon. Gentleman goes to Holyhead and explains that in his view the priority should have been given to the television studios and not to Holyhead.