HC Deb 06 July 1992 vol 211 cc5-7W
Mr. Barry Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will make a statement on his policies concerning assisted area status in Wales;

(2) if he will make a statement on regional policy in Wales.

Mr. David Hunt

A review of the assisted areas map in Great Britain was launched on 9 June. My Department has issued a consultation document, jointly with the Department of Trade and Industry and the Scottish Office, to interested organisations in Wales. The objectives of the Government's regional policy will continue to be to reduce regional imbalance in employment opportunities and to encourage the development of indigenous potential within the assisted areas on a stable, long-term basis. The needs of all areas will be carefully taken into account.

Mr. Barry Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list each of the assisted areas in Wales; and what was the number of unemployed in each area for each year since 1989.

Mr. David Hunt

The assisted areas in Wales, along with the numbers unemployed in each area since May 1989, are shown in the table:

Wales Assisted Area Unemployed, at May
1989 1990 1991 1992
Aberdare (D) 2,679 2,182 2,917 2,981
Bangor and Caernarfon (I) 3,020 2,845 3,229 3,817
Blaenau Gwent and Abergavenny (D) 4,242 3,376 4,003 4,086
Bridgend (I) 4,896 4,225 6,160 6,618
Cardiff (I) 15,486 13,851 19,087 21,745
Cardigan (D) 912 568 859 1,080
Fishguard (I) 390 270 349 471
Haverfordwest (I) 2,083 1,685 2,267 2,447
Holyhead (D) 2,479 2,104 2,604 3,085
Lampeter and Aberaeron (D) 586 393 584 644
Llanelli (I) 3,427 2,899 3,727 4,139
Merthyr and Rhymney (D) 6,345 5,581 7,134 7,393
Neath and Port Talbot (D) 3,617 2,713 4,020 4,342
Newport (I) 6,736 5,627 8,056 9,266
Pontypool and Cwmbran (I) 3,435 2,770 4,076 4,737
Pontypridd and Rhondda (D) 6,473 5,614 7,798 8,009
Portmadoc and Ffestiniog (I) 494 441 615 714
Pwellheli (I) 687 530 613 686
Shotton, Flint and Rhyl (D) 5,924 4,467 5,964 7,366
1989 1990 1991 1992
South Pembrokeshire (D) 1,626 1,339 1,928 1,962
Swansea (I) 10,126 8,091 10,669 11,358
Wrexham (D) 4,135 3,272 4,600 5,425

Source: Employment Department

(D) Development Area

(I) Intermediate Area