Unemployed Persons

HC Deb 26 November 1979 vol 974 cc457-8W

Mr. Wigley

asked the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will publish a table showing the percentage unemployment for men for the latest available month for the following local employment office areas (a) Carnarfon/Bangor, (b) Pwllheli/Porthmadog and (c) Shotton/Flint.

Mr. Nicholas Edwards

Unemployment percentage rates are available only for travel-to-work areas. The most recent information is as follows:

	Percentage male unemployment November 1979
Caernarfon TTWA	9.5
Pwllheli TTWA	12.5
Shotton TTWA	5.0

Mr. Barry Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate, if the cessation of steelmaking at Shotton proceeds according to the plans of the British Steel Corporation, of the unemployment in figures and percentages, of men and women, in the Deeside travel-to-work area in April-May 1980; if he will give this information for the townships of Holywell and Flint; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Nicholas Edwards

There will be a substantial addition to the numbers unemployed in the Shotton travel-to-work areas as the closure of steelmaking at Shotton takes place. But I will not forecast precise figures for particular dates next year since actual levels will depend on numbers registering, alternative employment opportunities and other factors.

Mr. Barry Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he proposes to take to create new job opportunities for redundant steelworkers in the Deeside area; and if he will list in the Official Report the details of the 1,000 jobs currently in the pipeline for the Deeside travel-to-work area to which he referred in his statement of 13 November.

Mr. Nicholas Edwards

I refer the hon. Member to my statement in the House on 13 November. The estimate of jobs in the pipeline relates to manufacturing projects already announced which have received financial assistance and/or have taken factory space in the travel-to-work area but have not yet manned up to their employment targets. It also includes some 400 jobs expected from a further 12 projects, which have not been formally announced.