§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what representations he has received from labour organisations regarding job losses in Wales over the last six months; and if he will make a statement; [136648]
(2) what representations he has received from labour organisations regarding job losses in Wales over the past six months; and if he will make a statement; [136647]
(3) what representations he has received from companies in Wales which have made job reductions in the past six months; and if he will make a statement. [136649]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyI have had correspondence and discussions with several individuals and groups, including trade unions and company managers.
Job losses are always unwelcome but it must be for individual companies to determine their response to market forces. The Government will continue to pursue its objective of securing long-term economic stability based on low inflation, allowing business to invest and plan ahead with confidence. The success of our policies is demonstrated by the steady fall in unemployment since May 1997.
When redundancies do occur, the Employment Service has a range of measures available to assist workers in securing suitable fresh employment opportunities. For large-scale job losses, this can include an on-site presence.