§ 23. Mrs. Ann WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment his Department has made of the contribution of the road haulage industry to employment in rural Wales. [72477]
§ Mr. HainThe road haulage industry plays a vital role in the Welsh economy, in terms of both the distribution of goods and the employment opportunities it provides in both urban and rural areas. The Autumn 1998 Labour Force Survey, conducted by the Office for National Statistics, showed that there were around 13,000 people in employment in the industry throughout Wales.
Following the transfer of functions, the National Assembly for Wales will take an extremely close interest in employment issues within Wales.