HC Deb 27 July 1999 vol 336 c410W
Mr. Rowlands

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of jobs within the West Wales and the Valleys area covered by Objective 1 status; and what target he plans to set for the number of jobs in(a) 2002, (b) 2006 and (c) 2010. [92919]

Mr. Hain

According to the 1997 Annual Employment Survey, there were an estimated 552,000 employee jobs within the West Wales and the Valleys area in September 1997 (this excludes the majority of employee jobs in agriculture). In addition, according to the 1997 Labour Force Survey Annual Database, covering the period March 1997-February 1998, there were an estimated 105,000 self-employed people.

Future targets are a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.

Mr. Rowlands

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the total number of people of working age who are economically inactive within the West Wales and the Valleys area covered by Objective 1 status. [92923]

Mr. Hain

According to the 1997 Labour Force Survey Annual Database, covering the period March 1997-February 1998, an estimated 295,000 people of working age were economically inactive within the West Wales and the Valleys area.