§ 54. Sir C. Osborneasked 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. FernyhoughAt 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.