§ 3. Dr. Hywel Francis (Aberavon) (Lab)What recent discussions he has had with the First Minister of the National Assembly for Wales on measures to reduce the levels of economic inactivity in Wales. [169183]
§ The Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Peter Hain)We hold regular discussions. Recent increases in employment and economic activity rates throughout Wales indicate that real progress is being made, but more needs to be done to reduce levels of economic inactivity.
§ Dr. FrancisOne of the Government's great successes is the way in which it has tackled economic inactivity among young people. An excellent project in my constituency, Unit 19 Training, links Sandfields comprehensive school to the world of work through accredited skills training provided by the Workers Educational Association. Will the Secretary of State join me in congratulating the project on winning a major national award as part of adult learners week later this month, and would he consider visiting my constituency to see the project in action? Could it be developed with funding such as that provided by the new deal and perhaps replicated in other parts of Wales?
§ Mr. HainI am aware of the excellent work done by Unit 19, and visited Sandfields in my hon. Friend's constituency only a few months ago to look at that work, which is based around the school and undertaken in co-operation with local industry to make sure that disaffected youngsters are brought back into the labour market and given opportunity and hope for the future. Such programmes would be endangered if the Tory 1326 party came to power and introduced plans to axe the new deal. The Labour Government, however, are very proud of the success of such programmes.
§ Mr. Bill Wiggin (Leominster) (Con)I wish that the Secretary of State was right, because the International Labour Organisation says that youth unemployment in Wales is 13.2 per cent, while the UK average is 12.4 per cent.; employment in Wales is 72.1 per cent. compared with the UK average of 74.8 per cent.; and economic activity in Wales, at 75.9 per cent., lags behind the UK average of 78.7 per cent. Will he tighten his grip on the First Minister or take whatever steps he can, as things are clearly in need of a great deal of improvement?
§ Mr. HainThe hon. Gentleman calls for improvement, but his party has a record in Wales of mass unemployment—up to 160,000. When we came to power, large parts of Wales had high levels of youth unemployment. It is our new deal programme, other programmes of active economic intervention and our successful running of the economy that have put the Welsh economy, as the director of CBI Wales said only a few days ago, in its best position for decades. We are proud of that record, on which we will fight the June elections and the next general election, when we expect to hammer the Conservatives, given their dreadful record in Wales.