§ 13. Mr. Roy HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the figure for male unemployment in Newport and Wales at the latest available date and expressed in percentage terms.[25644]
§ Mr. RichardsIn March 1996, the unadjusted number of males on the claimant unemployment count in the Newport travel-to-work area was 5, 977. That is 10.6 per cent. of the male work force. The corresponding figures for Wales were 83, 039 and 11.2 per cent.
§ Mr. HughesIs the Minister concerned about the huge disparity between male and female unemployment inasmuch as many more men are out of work because the jobs lost in heavy industry were never replaced? Does not that suggest that the Government's jobs policy, far from being the success that they claim, is a huge disaster?
§ Mr. RichardsOn the contrary, most of the jobs in the traditional heavy industries of south Wales have been replaced. In the hon. Gentleman's own constituency, unemployment fell by 221 in the 12 months to March this year. Since 1990, 11 plants have opened in the hon. Gentleman's constituency with 502 jobs gained. There are 10 foreign-owned manufacturing plants in the hon. Gentleman's constituency employing 1, 875 people. I wish that the hon. Gentleman would stop being a Job's comforter.