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Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average family size in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and the European Economic Community as a whole in 1970 and each five years thereafter, including data for 1989 or the latest available date.
Mr. Freeman : The table gives total period fertility rates--which are the only available reasonably comparable measures of average family sizes for the areas concerned. The total period fertility rate is the average number of children which would be born per woman if women experienced the age-specific fertility rates, as recorded at a particular point in time, throughout their entire childbearing lifespan.
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Country |1970 |1975 |1980 |1985 |Latest estimate ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- United Kingdom |2.45 |1.81 |1.89 |1.80 |1.84 (1988) France |2.48 |1.93 |1.95 |1.82 |1.82 (1987) West Germany |2.02 |1.45 |1.44 |1.28 |1.35 (1986) Italy |2.43 |2.21 |1.69 |1.41 |1.41 (1985) ------- European Economic Community - - - - <1>1.61 (1987) <1> Estimate. Source: Eurostat, Population and Social Conditions, 1989.
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the percentage set out in chart 6 of "Caring for People" (Cm. 849) as the estimated cumulative rate of transfer will be affected if the costs of the continuing commitment to residents with preserved rights are higher than has been estimated.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard [holding answer 1 February 1990] : I have been asked to reply.
The transfer of resources from the Department of Social Security to local authorities will be determined in the 1990 public expenditure survey. Any subsequent changes in the amounts required by DSS in respect of residents with preserved rights will be a matter for future surveys and will not therefore affect the transfer.
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89. Mr. Viggers : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on labour efficiency in the ports.
Mr. McLoughlin : The abolition of the dock labour scheme has created the conditions for more efficient working in the ports. The effects of this reform have still to finish working through the ports industry.
90. Mr. Marlow : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what have been the effects of the abolition of the national dock labour scheme.
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Mr. McLoughlin : I refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on 5 December to my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock (Mr. Janman) at column 183.91. Mr. Michael Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what reports he has received of the progress of the docks in Hull since the end of the national dock labour scheme.
Mr. McLoughlin : None ; but I would not expect any. However, according to press reports new flexible working arrangements have led to the reopening of the container terminal under new management, with a weekly service to Scandinavia, and to the establishment of new bulk trades at the port.
Mr. Peter Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many hackney carriage and private hire drivers were granted licences in (a) 1985 and (b) 1989 ;
(2) what is the total number of licensed hackney carriage and private hire drivers in England and Wales.
Mr. Portillo : The licensing of hackney carriage and private hire drivers belongs to district councils. Statistics are not collected by central Government.
Mr. Peter Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many hackney carriage and private hire driving licences were revoked in the last year for which records are available ; and what were the most common reasons.
Mr. Portillo : District councils have powers to revoke licences for a variety of reasons. They have not been asked to supply central Government with statistics on revocations.
Mr. Peter Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many representations he has received regarding the protection of passengers in hackney carriage and private hire vehicles from drivers who have prison convictions for offences of a sexual or violent nature.
Mr. Portillo : Since October 1989 I have received five representations on the threat to passengers in hackney carriages and private hire vehicles from drivers who may have had criminal convictions.
Mr. Peter Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will consider making statutory provision for a declaration of previous offences of a sexual or violent nature by all applicants for hackney carriage or private hire licences.
Mr. Portillo : I have no plans to make such a provision. Local licensing authorities already have powers under legislation which enable them to require the submission of information by applicants as a means of assessing their suitability.
Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to receive proposals from the West Yorkshire passenger transport authority concerning the electrification of the Bradford to Leeds railway and associated works ; when he expects to reach a decision on such proposals ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Portillo : The West Yorkshire passenger transport executive has recently approached the Department of Transport about this project, which will be considered on its merits. More details will be needed before any decision can be taken.
Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (a) how many people presently have cars registered in a company's name ; (b) what is their income distribution ; (c) how many are women and how many are men ; (d) what is the regional distribution and (e) if he will give comparable figures for the information in (a) for each year since 1973-74.
Mr. Atkins : The latest figures available show that in 1988, approximately 2,391,000 cars were registered in a company name. These include cars held in pools, rather than being assigned to particular users. According to the 1985-86 national travel survey, about 11 per cent. of household cars were provided by companies. For 84 per cent. of these, the main driver was a man.
The distribution of these vehicles according to region and to the income of the main driver are given in the following tables.
Income (1985-86) £ per annum |Per cent. ---------------------------------------- Less than 5,000 |14.4 5,000-9,999 |26.3 10,000-14,999 |26.3 15,000-19,999 |15.2 20,000-24,999 |6.3 25,000 and over |7.3
Income (1985-86) £ per annum |Per cent. ---------------------------------------- Less than 5,000 |14.4 5,000-9,999 |26.3 10,000-14,999 |26.3 15,000-19,999 |15.2 20,000-24,999 |6.3 25,000 and over |7.3
The number of cars registered in a company name for 1983 to 1987 are given in the following table. Figures are not available for years prior to 1983.
Year |thousand --------------------------- 1983 |1,840 1984 |1,917 1985 |1,981 1986 |2,038 1987 |2,170
Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total revenue raised from motor taxation in 1988-89 ; and what is his estimated revenue for 1989-90.
Mr. Atkins : The Department's estimates of revenue from motoring taxation are as follows :
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£ billion Revenue Tax |1988-89|1989-90 -------------------------------------------- Vehicle excise duty |2.8 |2.9 Fuel duty |8.5 |8.6 |-- |-- Total |11.3 |11.5
Sir George Young : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the standard of lighting on the A40 Westway and of the A40 in the London boroughs of Hammersmith and Fulham and Ealing.
Mr. Atkins : A consultant's report on lighting standards on the A40 in the London borough of Ealing was received in February 1989. Remedial works are already in progress or planned on those parts of this section of the A40 where lighting was found not to conform with British standard BS5489. Although the A40 Westway was not included in this assessment, there is no reason to doubt that it conforms to the British standard.
Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many and what proportion of (a) new cars use unleaded fuel, (b) car owners have converted their cars to unleaded fuel and what proportion this is of cars that can be converted and (c) new cars have a catalytic converter, (d) new cars made in the United Kingdom have catalytic converters, (e) car owners have had a catalytic converter fitted ; and what were the figures in 1988.
Mr. Atkins Industry sources indicate that virtually all new cars can run on unleaded petrol without adjustment. Estimates are that about 20 per cent. of cars on the road were able to use unleaded petrol without adjustment at the end of 1989, against 10 per cent. at the end of 1988. An additional 50 per cent. could use unleaded with adjustment at the end of 1989, against 35 per cent. at the end of 1988. The current uptake of unleaded represent about 28 per cent. of the fuel market, and if the same proportion of the vehicle fleet uses unleaded fuel, and about 20 per cent. of that fleet can use unleaded without adjustment, up to 8 per cent. of the vehicle fleet may have been adjusted.
There were 186 new car models and two light van models on the market fitted with three-way catalysts, out of a total of about 1,000 models listed in the Department's "New Car Fuel Consumption" figures for October 1989. Of these, 24 models were known to be of British manufacture. We know of one model offered with a catalyst in 1988. There is no information available on the market share occupied by these models, but I understand that the industry proposes to collate these data for the future.
Tighter emission standards will take effect in 1992. The number of catalyst equipped cars on the market can be expected to increase rapidly during the next two years.
Information on the retrofitment of catalysts by individual motorists is not available.
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Mr. Harris : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what decision has been taken on the request by the council of the Isles of Scilly for Government financial help towards the cost of repairing and extending the runway at St. Mary's airport.
Mr. McLoughlin : My Department wrote to the council on 5 February describing the financial basis on which it envisages the runway works at St. Mary's airport being carried out later this year. I am sending a copy of the letter to my hon. Friend.
Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which year's budget contained the relevant expenditure, in relation to the relevant authorities, in respect of the following works on the M2/A2 : (a) London boundary to M2 provision of lighting and provision of hard shoulders, (b) Brenley to Harbledown provision of lighting and provision of central reserve safety fencing, (c) Harbledown to Bridge provision of central reserve safety fencing, (d) Shepherdswell provision of lighting and (e) Jubilee Way to Dover alterations to road markings and removal of lay- bys.
Mr. Atkins : Expenditure was contained in the following years :-- A2
(a) London boundary to M2
Hardshoulders : 1985-86 to 1989-90 inclusive.
Lighting : Not yet allocated
(b) Brenley to Harbledown
Lighting : Not yet allocated.
Central reserve safety fence : Not yet allocated.
(c) Harbledown to Bridge
Central reserve safety fence : Not yet allocated.
(d) Shepherdswell
Lighting : 1989-90.
(e) Jubilee Way to Dover
Alterations to road markings : 1989-90
Removal of lay-bys : 1989-90.
Mr. Jack : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research or other assistance his Department is funding for the development of electrically powered road vehicles.
Mr. Atkins : Electric vehicles have for some years been exempt from vehicle excise duty. A considerable amount of research related to electric vehicles has been carried out by the transport and road research laboratory. The Department of Transport and the Department of Trade and Industry have also funded research into higher energy density batteries and the Department of Industry has funded the development of electric vehicles. Although no further research is foreseen, officials keep in touch with developments in electric vehicles both in the United Kingdom and abroad.
Mr. Leighton : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on the capacity of station car parks in London in each of the last 10 years ; and what is his current policy on the contribution station car parks can make to transport in London.
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Mr. Portillo : The provision of station car parks has an important role to play in encouraging commuters to leave their cars outside central London and to travel in by rail. The rail operators are in the best position to judge where increases in capacity will lead to increased rail demand. Network SouthEast has a substantial programme of investment in improving and expanding its car parks. I regret that I cannot supply the data requested.Mr. Devlin : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to respond to the feasibility study on road improvements to the A66 near Longnewton in Cleveland carried out by Cleveland county council ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins : A decision on the feasibility study will be announced shortly.
Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) pedestrians and (b) cyclists were killed and injured in each of the last five years due to drivers causing accidents while in excess of the blood alcohol limit ; and what research his Department has done on the impact random breathalysing would have on these figures.
Mr. Atkins : The numbers of (a) pedestrians and (b) pedal cyclists who were reported by the police as killed or injured as a result of collision with a motor vehicle whose driver was established to have a blood alcohol level in excess of the legal limit or failed to provide a specimen are :
|1984 |1985 |1986 |1987 |1988 ----------------------------------------------------- Pedestrians killed |116 |110 |83 |70 |61 all severities |1,117|1,186|1,092|949 |919 Pedal cyclists killed |20 |19 |17 |14 |6 all severities |771 |217 |160 |144 |136
These figures confirm the significant success of our campaign against drinking and driving, to which increased enforcement activity by the police has made a major contribution. The impact of any extension of police powers would depend on the extent to which they were used and on the level of associated publicity. The extensive powers currently available to the police were set out in the recent statement by my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General ( Official Report, 5 December, column 131 ). The Government fully support the full use by the police of these powers.
Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what values for personal travelling time are given in departmental assessment methods for (a) bus passengers, (b) pedestrians, (c) motorists and (d) cyclists.
Mr. Atkins : The values of personal travelling time are given in the latest version of the "Highways Economic Note No. 2" issued in May 1989, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.
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Mr. Steinberg : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the tonnage of goods transported by road and rail in each year since 1985.
Mr. Atkins : The information requested is published in table 1.13 of "Transport Statistics Great Britain 1978-1988", a copy of which is in the Library.
Mr. Alan W. Williams : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales with regard to the changes now being carried out to the roundabout at the junction of the Carmarthen southern bypass with the trunk road A40, why is the work necessary and what it is designed to achieve, how much it will cost, and who is responsible financially.
Mr. Wyn Roberts : The improvement scheme at this roundabout scored very highly using the Welsh Office's computerised ranking programme for schemes costing less than £1 million. This programme takes into account a number of factors, including the incidence of accidents. The improvement scheme is being carried out at a cost of £500,000 to the Welsh Office.
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the latest figures for the number of people living in bed and breakfast accommodation.
Mr. Ian Grist : On 30 September 1989 there were 164 homeless families in Wales placed in bed and breakfast accommodation. Information on the number of individuals is not available centrally.
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many nominees for the current appointments made solely or jointly by him to (a) each community health council in Wales, (b) each district health authority in Wales, (c) the All-Wales Advisory Panel on the Development of Services for People with Mental Handicaps, (d) each family practitioner committee in Wales, (e) the Health Policy Board and (f) the Health Promotion Board declared a political affiliation in their curricula vitae ; and of those declaring a political affiliation, how many showed allegiance to (a) Conservative, (b) Labour, (c) Liberal Democrats, (d) the Social Democratic party, (e) the Green party and (f) Plaid Cymru ;
(2) how many nominees for the current appointments made solely or jointly by him to (a) the Administration of Radioactive Substances, Advisory Committee, (b) the Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances, (c) the Agricultural Advisory Panel for Wales, (d) the Agricultural Valuation Committee (Wales), (e) the Agricultural Wages Committee, (f) the Ancient Monuments Board for Wales, (g) the Audit Commission and (h) the British Wool Marketing Board declared a political affiliation in their curricula vitae ; and of those declaring a political affiliation, how many showed
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allegiance to (a) Conservatives, (b) Labour, (c) Liberal Democrats, (d) Social Democratic party, (e) Green party and (f) Plaid Cymru ;(3) how many nominees for the current appointments made solely or jointly by him to (a) the Farm Animal Welfare Council, (b) the Forestry Commission Reference Committee Panel for Wales, (c) the Historic Buildings Council for Wales, (d) Housing for Wales, (e) the Land Authorities for Wales, (f) the Library and Information Services Council (Wales), (g) the Local Government Boundary Commission and (h) the National Parks Committee, declared a political affiliation in their curricula vitae ; and of those declaring a political affiliation, how many showed allegiance to (a) Conservatives, (b) Labour, (c) Liberal Democrats, (d) Social Democratic party, (e) Green party and (f) Plaid Cymru ; (4) how many nominees for the current appointments made solely or jointly by him to (a) the National Radiological Protection Board, (b) the North Western and North Wales Sea Fisheries Committee, (c) the Place Names Advisory Committee, (d) the Rent Assessment Panel, (e) the Saundersfoot Harbour Commission, (f) the Sports Council for Wales and (g) the South Wales Sea Fisheries Committee, declared a political affiliation in their curricula vitae ; and of those declaring a political affiliation, how many showed allegiance to (a) Conservatives, (b) Labour, (c) Liberal Democrats, (d) Social Democratic party, (e) Green party and (f) Plaid Cymru ; (5) how many nominees for the current appointments made solely or jointly by him to (a) the Cardiff Bay development corporation, (b) the Committee for the Welsh Scheme for the Development of Health and Social Research, (c) the Committee on Opportunities for Volunteering, (d) the Council for National Academic Awards, (e) the courts and councils of (i) the National Library and (ii) the National Museum of Wales, (f) the Curriculum Council for Wales and (g) the Development Board for Rural Wales declared a political affiliation in their curricula vitae ; and of those declaring a political affiliation, how many showed allegiance to (a) Conservatives, (b) Labour, (c) Liberal Democrats, (d) Social Democratic party, (e) Green party and (f) Plaid Cymru.
Mr. Peter Walker : I do not require candidates for public appointment to indicate their political affiliation, as this is not a qualification for appointment.
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many of the current appointments made solely or jointly by him to (a) the National Radiological Protection Board, (b) the North Western and North Wales Sea Fisheries Committee, (c) the Place Names Advisory Committee, (d) the Rent Assessment Panel, (e) the Saundersfoot Harbour Commission, (f) the Sports Council for Wales and (g) the South Wales Sea Fisheries Committee are held by women.
Mr. Peter Walker : The information is shown in the following table :
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Women in public appointments |Number of |appointments |held by women ----------------------------------------------------------------------- (a) National Radiological Protection Board |2 (b) North Western and North Wales Sea Fisheries Committee |None (c) Place Names Advisory Committee |None (d) Rent Assessment Panel |7 (e) Saundersfoot Harbour Commission |None (f) Sports Council for Wales |4 (g) South Wales Sea Fisheries Committee |1
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many of the current appointments made by him either solely or jointly with another Minister to (a) each community health council in Wales, (b) each district health authority in Wales, (c) the All-Wales Advisory Panel on the Development of Services for People with Mental Handicaps, (d) each family practitioner committee in Wales, (e) the Health Policy Board and (f) the Health Promotion Board are held by women.
Mr. Peter Walker : I have taken the hon. Gentleman's question to refer at (f) to the Welsh Health Promotion Authority. The information is shown in the following table :
|Number of |appointments |held by women ---------------------------------------------------------------- (a) Community Health Councils in Wales: Clwyd South |1 Clwyd North |3 Carmarthen/Dinefwr |3 Llanelli/Dinefwr |1 Ceredigion |2 Pembrokeshire |3 South Gwent |2 North Gwent |3 Arfon/Dwyfor |1 Aberconwy |2 Ynys Mon |1 Meirionnydd |1 Rhymney Valley |2 East Glamorgan |3 Merthyr/Cynon Valley |2 Ogwr |2 Brecon/Radnor |2 Montgomery |1 Cardiff |3 Vale of Glamorgan |2 Neath/Port Talbot |3 Swansea/Lliw Valley |2 (b) District Health Authorities: Clwyd |4 East Dyfed |4 Gwent |3 Gwynedd |3 Mid Glamorgan |2 Pembrokeshire |2 Powys |4 South Glamorgan |4 West Glamorgan |4 (c) All Wales Advisory Panel on the Development of Services for people with Mental Handicaps |1 (d) Family Practitioner Committee: Clwyd |7 Dyfed |8 Gwent |8 Gwynedd |5 Mid Glamorgan |5 Powys |12 West Glamorgan |8 South Glamorgan |7 (e) Health Policy Board |1 (f) Welsh Health Promotion Authority 7
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many of the current appointments made solely or jointly by him to (a) the Administration of Radioactive Substances Advisory Committee, (b) the Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances, (c) the Agricultural Advisory Panel for Wales, (d) the Agricultural Valuation Committee (Wales), (e) the Agricultural Wages Committee, (f) the Ancient Monuments Board for Wales, (g) the Audit Commission and (h) the British Wool Marketing Board are held by women.
Mr. Peter Walker : The information is shown in the following table :
Women in public appointments |Number of |appointments |held by women -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (a) |Administration of Radioactive Substances Advisory Committee |2 (b) |Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances |None (c) |Agricultural Advisory Panel for Wales |3 (d) |Agricultural Valuation Committee for Wales |None (e) |Agricultural Wages Committee: Dyfed |1 Glamorgans |1 Powys |1 (f) |Ancient Monuments Board for Wales |1 (g) |Audit Commission |1 (h) |British Wool Marketing Board |1
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many of the current appointments made solely or jointly by him to (a) the Farm Animal Welfare Council, (b) the Forestry Commission Reference Committee Panel for Wales, (c) the Historic Buildings Council for Wales, (d) Housing for Wales, (e) the Land Authority for Wales, (f) the Library and Information Services Council (Wales), (g) the Local Government Boundary Commission and (h) the National Parks Committee are held by women.
Mr. Peter Walker : The information is shown in the following table :
Number of Appointments held by women |Number ----------------------------------------------------------- (a) Farm Animal Welfare Council |5 (b) Forestry Commission Reference Committee |None Panel for Wales (c) Historic Buildings Council for Wales |None (d) Housing For Wales |1 (e) Land Authority for Wales |None (f) Library and Information Services Council |2 (Wales) (g) Local Government Boundary Commission |1 (h) National Parks Committee: Brecon Beacons |1 Pembrokeshire Coast |1 Snowdonia |1
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Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many of the current appointments made solely or jointly by him to (a) the Cardiff Bay development corporation, (b) the Committee for the Welsh Scheme for the Development of Health and Social Research, (c) the Committee on Opportunities for Volunteering, (d) the Council for National Academic Awards, (e) the courts and councils of (i) the National Library and (ii) the National Museum of Wales, (f) the Curriculum Council of Wales and (g) the Development Board for Rural Wales are held by women.
Mr. Peter Walker : The information is shown in the following table :
Number of appointments held by women ------------------------------------------------------------ (a) Cardiff Bay Development Corporation 2 (b) Committee for the Welsh Scheme for the Development of Health and Social Research None (c) Committee on Opportunities for Volunteering 2 (d) Council for National Academic Awards None (e) Courts and Councils of |Court |Council (i) The National Library |3 |1 (ii) The National Museum of Wales |1 |- (f) Curriculum Council for Wales 3 (g) Development Board for Rural Wales 1
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list, by county, the number of YTS trainees in Wales and the number of YTS vacancies.
Mr. Wyn Roberts : Figures for YTS trainees are not available on a county basis. The Training Agency in Wales provides statistics on an area office basis only which refer to the area in which training takes place rather than where the trainee lives.
At the end of January 1990, the numbers in training in Wales were 23,330 comprising South and Mid Glamorgan 7,337 ; Gwent 3,813 ; West Glamorgan and Dyfed 5,826 ; and Gwynedd, Clwyd and Powys 6,354. At the end of January 1990 the number of unfilled places in Wales was 5,795 broken down as follows : South and Mid Glamorgan 1,889 ; Gwent 1,127 ; West Glamorgan and Dyfed 789 ; and Gwynedd, Clwyd and Powys 1,990.
Mr. Denzil Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many persons in Wales were engaged in industrial employment, as described in article 9 of EC regulation No. 2052/88 of 24 June 1988, in each year from 1979 inclusive to the latest available year.
Mr. Peter Walker : The information requested is shown in the following table :
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At June each |No. of year |employees in |Industrial |Employment<1> |('000s) ------------------------------------------ 1979 |439 1980 |411 1981 |355 1982 |333 1983 |315 1984 |310 1985 |305 1986 |293 1987 |296 1988 |309 1989 |313 <1> Employees in employment in Wales in Divisions 1 to 5 of the Standard Industrial Classification 1980; ie. Energy and Water supply, manufacturing and construction.
The decline in employment in the coal and steel industries has resulted in a reduction of 60,000 in the numbers employed. I am pleased to say that increases in the service industries and the self-employed have more than compensated for this.
Mr. Denzil Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales into which NUTS level III territorial unit for the purposes of article 9 of EC regulation 2052/88 the area covered by the Llanelli borough council has been put.
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