§ Mr. Hoosonasked the Secretary of State for Wales what are the current rates of depopulation in the Mid-Wales counties of Montgomeryshire, Merionethshire, Cardiganshire, Breconshire and Radnorshire, respectively; and if he can 217W give the rate of depopulation for Cardiganshire excluding the university towns of Aberystwyth and Lampeter.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasThe 1971 Census figures show that over the decade 1961ߝ71 the average annual rates of change of population of the Mid-Wales counties expressed per 1,000 were as follows:
Breconshire -3.3 Cardiganshire +2.3 Merioneth -7.8 Montgomeryshire -2.4 Radnorshire -1.4 If the university towns of Aberystwyth and Lampeter are excluded the rate for the remainder of Cardiganshire is 1.5 per 1,000. These are the latest reliable figures which are available.