§ 8. Mr. John Smith (Vale of Glamorgan) (Lab)If he will make a statement about employment levels in (a) the Vale of Glamorgan and (b) Wales. [169190]
§ The Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Peter Hain)The labour market in Wales continues to perform well, and better than the average for the UK economic regions. There are now more people in work than ever before, and the employment rate in the Vale of Glamorgan remains above that of Wales as a whole.
§ Mr. SmithI thank my right hon. Friend for that reply, which confirms that unemployment in my constituency is now at a 30-year low. However, he will know that the Red Dragon project is important for future employment prospects in the Vale of Glamorgan. Will he undertake to do all that he can to convince the Ministry of Defence to roll back the Tornado GR4 platform to the Defence Aviation Repair Agency works at RAF St. Athan, which will provide value for money for taxpayers, enhance our military capability and guarantee the Red Dragon project for 20 years?
§ Mr. HainI will certainly do all that I can to achieve that objective. Indeed, I have already spoken to my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Ministry of Defence about it. I was very pleased that the Secretary of State for Defence recently said that we remain absolutely committed to the Red Dragon project.
My hon. Friend is right, too, about the health of his local labour market. Under Labour, there are more jobs and a stronger economy in the Vale of Glamorgan and throughout Wales. That is why the people of Wales will back Labour on 10 June and in a general election when it comes.