§ 104. Mr. Gowerasked the Minister of Labour what estimate he has made of the total number of employees affected, or likely to be affected, by the closure of old-type iron and tinplate works in South Wales; and to what extent he anticipates that satisfactory alternative employment may be available within reasonable distance of the homes of those affected.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodThe tinplate, sheet steel and steel works in South Wales which are expected to close this year employed at the beginning of 1957 8,000 workers, of whom 3,800 had been discharged by the end of October. About 330 of the workers affected are now unemployed. 400 workers who are likely to be discharged or who are now unemployed in East South Wales have good prospects of being placed quickly in suitable employment.
The immediate prospects of about 4,000 workers employed in works which are expected to close in the near future in West South Wales are uncertain, but a number of industrial developments are in 56W hand within reasonable daily travelling distance of most of the areas concerned and at a later date, as they are completed, they should provide a substantial number of new jobs. It would be premature to make an estimate as regards the 12,800 people employed in old style tin-plate and steel works about the future of which decisions have not yet been made.