§ Angela Watkinson (Upminster)How many employers in Wales are being forced to move their operations to countries such as—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Perhaps the hon. Lady should make reference to Question 3.
§ 3. Angela WatkinsonIf he will make a statement on recent job losses in Wales. [135530]
§ The Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Peter Hain)I have had a rehearsal of the question from the hon. Lady. No, because employment in Wales has risen by 68,000 in the past year.
§ Angela WatkinsonHow many employers in Wales are being forced to move their operations to countries such as Malaysia, India and China to avoid the burden of regulation and taxation on businesses, and to avoid increases in national insurance contributions, and how many job losses have occurred in Wales since this Government came to power in 1997?
§ Mr. HainThe unemployment rate has nearly halved right across Wales, and employment is now at a very high level; indeed, as I said, there was a rise of 68,000 last year. We should look at the facts instead of the Tory 785 allegations. In terms of employment, the claimant count is down to 3.4 per cent.—the lowest figure since the 1970s—and economic activity is up by 3 per cent. Since the last general election. Wales has had more than 14 per cent. of the total number of jobs coming to the United Kingdom in the past year, compared with 12.6 per cent. last year. Wales captured 18.6 per cent. of safeguarded jobs, making it the top region in the United Kingdom. Yes, there is a churning, with jobs at the lower end of the manufacturing scale going to countries with cheaper labour costs, but we are attracting new investment and new jobs all the time.
§ Mrs. Betty Williams (Conwy)Does my right hon. Friend agree that it is high time that Opposition Members of all political persuasions talked Wales up, rather than down? Is he aware that American business people told the Welsh Affairs Committee last week that, of all the regional development agencies, they enjoy the best co-operation with the Welsh Development Agency and the National Assembly for Wales? [Interruption.]
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Once again, I appeal for some quietness in the Chamber. Private conversations should take place elsewhere.
§ Mr. HainYes, Mr. Speaker, because my hon. Friend and other colleagues on the Labour Benches speak for Wales, but the Tories have nobody in Wales any more. That is why they are talking Wales down. In fact, Wales is doing better than for many years, and a lot better than it ever did under the Tories.