§ Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Wales if, in view of the substantial redundancies at the British Steel Corporation Shotton works and the textile redundancies in the Flint and Holywell area, he will convene and chair a conference of local authorities, trade unions and industrialists with a view to initiating urgent measures to reduce unemployment.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsI met Clwyd county council representatives in February. In May my officials met the local authorities and the Government agencies concerned to discuss progress on attracting new employment in the light of the upgrading of the area to special development area status and the provision of the £15 million remedial package. I intend that this pattern of consultation and review shall continue.