§ Mr. Hopkinasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the continued distress caused by long periods of unemployment in the Gwendraeth Valley, Carmarthenshire; whether he is aware of the existence of a number of schemes for work; and what he proposes to do to lessen the numbers of the unemployed in this valley?
§ Mr. E. BrownI am aware of the serious unemployment in the Gwendraeth Valley and I regret that it has not so far been possible for this area to take advantage of Sections 5 and 6 of the Special Areas (Amendment) Act, 1937, but I would draw attention to the announcement which has already been made that the Government proposes to introduce legislation to make loan facilities more readily available for new industrial undertakings to be established in1462W certain areas of heavy unemployment outside the Special Areas. I also hope that the recent coal agreement with France will be of assistance to this area.