§ Mr. Terlezkiasked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the last available figure in the fall in employment in Wales; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsThe latest available estimate of employees in employment in Wales shows an increase of 6,000 between March 1986 and June 1986, following a fall of 23,000 between June 1985 and March 1986. In making such comparisons it should be borne in mind that employment is affected by seasonal factors.
§ Mr. Geraint Howellsasked the Secretary of State for Wales by how much unemployment has increased in Ceredigion since May 1979; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsInformation on the number of people unemployed in the district of Ceridigion in May 1979 is not available. A close approximation is the aggregate total of 1,875 unemployed registrants in the three travel-to-work areas, as they were defined at the time, of Aberystwyth, Cardigan and Lampeter. Comparisons between 1979 and the present are difficult to 309W make because of changes in the method of collection and compilation of the data and changes to the boundaries of the travel-to-work areas. The aggregate total of unemployed claimants in the travel-to-work areas of Lampeter and Aberaeron, Aberystwyth and Cardigan, as currently defined, was 4,260 in December 1986.