§ 15. Chris RuaneTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the level of unemployment in North Wales. [59922]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyThe Government's long-term ambition is that by the end of the decade there will be a higher proportion of people in work than ever before.
The latest labour market statistics, published last Friday, show that we are making excellent progress—3,000 more people in Wales are in work, compared to a year before. The statistics also show that claimant rates are down compared to a year before across the whole of North Wales.
§ 21. Mr. Martyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the effect in Wales of Government measures to create job opportunities for unemployed people. [59928]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyEmployment measures such as the New Deal have been a huge success in Wales and we have seen a 65 per cent. fall in youth claimants and a 58 per cent. fall in long-term claimants since those policies were introduced. The latest labour market 327W statistics for Wales, published last Friday, show that 3,000 more people in Wales are in work, compared to a year before.