HC Deb 19 June 2002 vol 387 c328W
24. Mr. Ben Chapman

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on employment levels in North Wales. [59931]

Mr. Paul Murphy

The Government's long-term ambition is that by the end of the decade there will be a higher proportion of people in work than ever before.

The latest labour market statistics, published last Friday, show that we are making excellent progress—3,000 more people in Wales are in work, compared to a year before. The statistics also show that claimant rates are down compared to a year before across the whole of North Wales.