§ 82. Mr. Ray Powellasked the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the growth in the number of unemployed persons in Wales since May 1979; and what percentage increase this represents.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsBetween May 1979 and February 1983 unemployment, seasonally adjusted and excluding school leavers, increased by 88,300, or 112.9 per cent.
§ Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Wales how many (a) unemployed 17-year-olds and (b) long-term unemployed there are in Wales.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsInformation in respect of 17-year-olds is not available, but on 13 January 1983, the latest date for which age and duration information is available, 11,859 people under 18 years were unemployed. As at that date 65,999 people had been unemployed for over 52 weeks.
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§ Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total number of jobless in Wales, by county; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsOn 10 February 1983 the number of unemployed claimants were as follows:
Numbers South Glamorgan 24,949 Mid Glamorgan 33,440 West Glamorgan 27,350 Gwent 30,173 Dyfed 19,244 Powys 3,881 Gwynedd 13,675 Clwyd 25,365 Wales 178,077 As I told the hon. Member in my answer of 14 February 1983—[Vol. 37, c. 16]—the Government have endorsed a substantial spending programme on special employment and training measures to help the unemployed. There is, too, the continuing commitment to develop job opportunities through the programmes of various agencies such as the Welsh Development Agency and the Development Board for Rural Wales.