§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the changes in the totals and percentages of unemployed in(a) Wales and (b) the area covered by the valleys initiative since (i) July 1986, (ii) July 1987 and (iii) July 1988.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerThe information requested is shown in the table. The figures used are not adjusted for seasonality and are affected by the change in benefit regulations for under 18-year-olds introduced in September 1988.
645W
Change in number of unemployed 1Change in unemployment rate (Percentage points) July 1986–September 1989 Valleys area -19,964 -9.1 Wales -84,592 -8.1 July 1987–September 1989 Valleys area -13,718 -6.3
Change in number of unemployed 1 Change in unemployment rate (Percentage points) Wales -61,535 -6.0 July 1988–September 1989 Valleys area -7,630 -3.5 Wales -35,478 -3.3 1 The rates used for Wales are on the "narrow base" (ie the denominator consisting of employees in employment and unemployed claimants) which provides the closest basis on which a comparison can be made with my estimates for the valleys programme area. Since the launch of the valleys programme in June 1988, the unemployment rate in the valleys area has fallen by 3.9 percentage points compared to a fall in Wales of 3.4 percentage points.