HC Deb 17 October 1968 vol 770 c164W
54. Sir C. Osborne

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what is the average rate of unemployment for Wales to the latest convenient date; how this compares with the rate in England; which are the three worst areas in Wales; what are their rates, respectively; and how soon she expects to eliminate all unemployment in Wales.

Mr. Fernyhough

At 9th September the percentage rates of unemployment for Wales and England were 4.0 and 2.1 respectively. Employment Exchange or travel-to-work areas in Wales with the highest percentage rates of unemployment at that date were Caerphilly (9.8), Milford Haven (8.2) and Ystalyfera (7.6).

I do not expect to be able to eliminate all unemployment in Wales, but Government assistance to the development areas is expected to produce a marked reduction in the disparity between the level of unemployment in the Welsh Development Area and the national level over the next three years.

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