Employment

Oral Answers to Questions — Wales – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 30 November 1967.

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Photo of Mr Elystan Morgan Mr Elystan Morgan , Cardiganshire 12:00, 30 November 1967

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of new jobs that will be created in Wales by 1970 under the new measures announced on 14th November.

Photo of Mr Cledwyn Hughes Mr Cledwyn Hughes , Anglesey

The new trading estate land could produce eventually some 19,000 jobs but it is too early to estimate how many of these jobs will become available by 1970 nor the effect by them of the other special measures announced a fortnight ago.

Photo of Mr Elystan Morgan Mr Elystan Morgan , Cardiganshire

I thank my right hon. Friend for that reply. May I ask whether he concedes the case for the extension of this second-tier assistance to other areas which find it very difficult to attract industry?

Photo of Mr Cledwyn Hughes Mr Cledwyn Hughes , Anglesey

I take it that my hon. Friend is referring to Mid-Wales. As he knows, I am anxious to see a healthy rate of industrial development in Mid-Wales, and facilities have been made available there to encourage this. My hon. Friend will know that part of the land in the New Town designation area is planned for industrial development.

Photo of Mr Gwynfor Evans Mr Gwynfor Evans , Carmarthen

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of new jobs needed in Wales by 1971 in order that unemployment should be reduced and migration avoided.

Photo of Mr Cledwyn Hughes Mr Cledwyn Hughes , Anglesey

The White Paper (Cmnd. 3334) which I presented in July sets out the employment prospects for Wales and the assumptions on which they were based. Since those estimates were made last March, the prospects for 1971 have been improved by the regional employment premium, decisions to disperse Government establishments to Wales and other Government measures.

Photo of Mr Gwynfor Evans Mr Gwynfor Evans , Carmarthen

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that apart from the 42,000 persons in Wales who are today unemployed, and apart from the rapid rundown in our basic industries, we have had a hidden unemployment of about 97,000 people due to the wretchedly low employment activity rate in Wales? Would not a more realistic assessment be somewhere nearer 150,000 new jobs by 1971?

Photo of Mr Cledwyn Hughes Mr Cledwyn Hughes , Anglesey

I cannot accept the hon. Gentleman's figures, nor do I know where he got them. We are confident that the measures which we are taking will resolve our problems over the next five years.