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Economic Inactivity

3. Dr. Hywel Francis (Aberavon) (Lab): What recent discussions he has had with the First Minister of the National Assembly for Wales on measures to reduce the levels of economic inactivity in Wales. [169183]

The Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Peter Hain): We hold regular discussions. Recent increases in employment and economic activity rates throughout Wales indicate that real progress is being made, but more needs to be done to reduce levels of economic inactivity.

Dr. Francis : One of the Government's great successes is the way in which it has tackled economic inactivity among young people. An excellent project in my constituency, Unit 19 Training, links Sandfields comprehensive school to the world of work through accredited skills training provided by the Workers Educational Association. Will the Secretary of State join me in congratulating the project on winning a major national award as part of adult learners week later this month, and would he consider visiting my constituency to see the project in action? Could it be developed with funding such as that provided by the new deal and perhaps replicated in other parts of Wales?

Mr. Hain: I am aware of the excellent work done by Unit 19, and visited Sandfields in my hon. Friend's constituency only a few months ago to look at that work, which is based around the school and undertaken in co-operation with local industry to make sure that disaffected youngsters are brought back into the labour market and given opportunity and hope for the future. Such programmes would be endangered if the Tory
 
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party came to power and introduced plans to axe the new deal. The Labour Government, however, are very proud of the success of such programmes.

Mr. Bill Wiggin (Leominster) (Con): I wish that the Secretary of State was right, because the International Labour Organisation says that youth unemployment in Wales is 13.2 per cent, while the UK average is 12.4 per cent.; employment in Wales is 72.1 per cent. compared with the UK average of 74.8 per cent.; and economic activity in Wales, at 75.9 per cent., lags behind the UK average of 78.7 per cent. Will he tighten his grip on the First Minister or take whatever steps he can, as things are clearly in need of a great deal of improvement?

Mr. Hain: The hon. Gentleman calls for improvement, but his party has a record in Wales of mass unemployment—up to 160,000. When we came to power, large parts of Wales had high levels of youth unemployment. It is our new deal programme, other programmes of active economic intervention and our successful running of the economy that have put the Welsh economy, as the director of CBI Wales said only a few days ago, in its best position for decades. We are proud of that record, on which we will fight the June elections and the next general election, when we expect to hammer the Conservatives, given their dreadful record in Wales.

S4C

4. Mr. Simon Thomas (Ceredigion) (PC): What discussions he has held with (a) S4C and (b) the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on the current review of S4C. [169185]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Don Touhig): My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have regular meetings with ministerial colleagues to discuss a range of issues. We met the chief executive of S4C to discuss the current review on 20 April.

Mr. Thomas : I thank the Minister for his reply, but does he agree that it is vital that S4C and other broadcasters in Wales maintain access to sufficient funding for the digital future that is coming to broadcasting? Will he put the Wales Office, with the support of my hon. Friends, other hon. Members and myself, at the head of a campaign to ensure that Wales is one of the first areas in the United Kingdom to receive digital terrestrial broadcasting and does not lag behind, as has often happened in the past? If he takes that lead, we can have an all-digital future for Wales, which is the best solution for Wales and everyone living there.

Mr. Touhig: I can tell the hon. Gentleman that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has discussed that issue with broadcasters in Wales. We think that it is important. The agenda and the range of subjects that we covered at our meetings, particularly with S4C, covered that, as well as the current review, viewing figures, analogue switch-off and so on. We are determined to make sure that, in terms of broadcasting, Wales has a very good deal. My right hon. Friend in particular has worked hard at that, and he and I are happy to share
 
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with the hon. Gentleman and with other right hon. and hon. Members the work that we are doing, so that we push forward with a collective agenda to get the best that we can for broadcasting in Wales.

Chris Bryant (Rhondda) (Lab): But will my hon. Friend point out to S4C when next he meets its representatives, and to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, that people in the valleys are sick and tired of having to choose between S4C and Channel 4? They do not want S4C or Channel 4, they want S4C and Channel 4, and the only way that that will happen is if the digital freeview service is rolled out across the valleys as soon as possible.

Mr. Touhig: We are on common ground in that regard. Of course people want Channel 4 and S4C. We are working to try to ensure that that happens. Our discussions have been fruitful, and the review, so far as S4C is concerned, will have an impact on that. We all share a common goal. How we ultimately get there will be important. I have no doubt that it is the view right across the House that we must deliver on this, and we will work hard to do so. As I said in response to an earlier question, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gives it high priority.

Post Office

5. Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley) (Lab): What discussions he has had with the First Minister of the National Assembly about proposed Post Office branch closures in Wales. [169186]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Don Touhig): My right hon. Friend and I hold regular bilateral meetings with the First Minister and other Assembly Ministers to discuss a range of issues, including the impact of the post office network reinvention programme in Wales.

Ann Clwyd : The post office at Abernant in my constituency is the only shop in the village, the only community centre and the only bank, and 70 per cent. of the people in the Cynon valley claim their benefits through post offices, so it is a retrograde step on the part of the Post Office to shut such a facility in an impoverished area. I hope my hon. Friend will join me in opposing that closure.

Mr. Touhig: I have taken a close interest in the network reinvention programme, as we all have because it has affected our constituencies. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has met and has also written to the Post Office management underlining the important social role of post offices and the need for proper local consultation, particularly in the case of communities such as the one my hon. Friend represents, where any closure may impact on elderly, disabled and disadvantaged people. We will continue with those discussions. I know that the closure in Abernant is opposed by Postwatch. I hope that the campaign in which my hon. Friend is involved is successful, and that she succeeds in keeping the post office open for her constituents.
 
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Mr. Roger Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire) (LD): The Minister will be aware that three post offices in my constituency were under threat—Penrhos, Glanrhyd and Cwmphil road. The Post Office has now decided to keep Glanrhyd open and to close Penrhos, which was the one that served the most deprived community, but it has given us no reasons for its decision. Will the Minister help us find out what reasons lie behind the Post Office's decisions in these matters?

Mr. Touhig: As the hon. Gentleman knows, I am ever the diplomat in these matters, but the discussions that I have had with the Post Office on closures have not always been entirely fruitful, and in face-to-face discussions with Post Office representatives I have left them in no doubt what I think of their consultation. A number of colleagues in the House have had face-to-face meetings with Post Office representatives and, as a result, they have extended the consultation period and ensured that Members of Parliament and Assembly Members are given advance notice, but in the interests of our constituents we should not let up in our efforts to ensure that there is proper and adequate consultation, that everyone's views are taken into account and that we have the best possible post office network. As the hon. Gentleman knows, a great deal of money has been put into the network reinvention programme—about £16 million in Wales—which will benefit the overall network at the end of the day.

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