§ 58. Mr. Abseasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the present male unemployment rate at Blaenavon and at Pontypool; what is the projected male unemployment rate at Pontypool on the closure of G.K.N. Cwmbran Limited; and what plans are in existence for retraining centres in these areas.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithOn 11th October the male unemployment rate for the Pontypool travel-to-work area, which includes Blaenavon, was 6.5 per cent. While the closure of the G.K.N. foundry is likely to have an appreciable effect on unemployment in the area, I am not able to make a precise estimate. A new Government training centre was opened at56W Pontllanfraith in March to meet the training needs of the Pontypool area.