§ Mr. Ray Powellasked the Secretary of State for Wales why Wales had some of the most severe job losses of any region in the United Kingdom over the last 12 months ended March 1981; and if he will seek to identify the factors which would account for the drop of just under 8 per cent. for the number of people in work in Wales, compared with a fall of about 5.5 per cent. over the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsA major contribution to the fall in employees in employment during the period referred to was the metal manufacturing industry—mainly steel—where employment decreased from 69,000 in March 1980 to 44,000 in March 1981.
The overall fall in employment, excluding that in metal manufacturing, was 5.7 per cent., close to the United Kingdom average.