§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Employment on what occasions there have been general reviews of travel-to-work areas; and if he will list all changes that have been made to any of the travel-to-work areas between the reviews in each case.
§ Mr. LeeSince 1960 (when the concept of travel-to-work areas was first introduced for producing unemployment rates) travel-to-work areas have been reviewed on three occasions—in 1968, 1978 and 1984. These reviews were to take account of the latest information on travel-to-work patterns from the censuses of population conducted in 1961, 1971 and 1981, respectively.
Information on changes to travel-to-work areas between reviews before the 1984 review is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Since the 1984 review a minor revision has been made to the boundary between Llanelli and Swansea travel-to-work areas following a revision to the relevant 1981 Census of Population data. Also the names of three travel-to-work areas have been changed: St. Andrews became North-East Fife, Flint and Rhyl become Shotton, Flint and Rhyl and Ebbw Vale and Abergavenny became Blaenau Gwent and Abergavenny.