asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he has made any assessment of the effects of Government energy policy on employment prospects in Wales.

Our policy of providing competitive and secure supplies of energy is essential for the best development of manufacturing industry and of employment prospects in Wales.

Does the Secretary of State now agree with the view expressed by his right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer at the beginning of the coal industry dispute, which was engineered by the Government, that the dispute was a good investment? How does the absence of a coherent energy policy and of substantial investment in the Welsh coal industry amount to an energy policy that is good for Wales?

I cannot agree with the hon. Gentleman about the absence of a coherent energy policy. Massive investment is going on in the coal industry. We are determined to see that alternative sources of energy are available to industry so that they have competitive fuel sources to enable them to compete with other countries.

As the most damaging factor affecting energy in Wales was the unfortunate coal mining strike, to what extent will that affect the prices of electricity in particular and energy in general during the period immediately ahead of us?

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor has already made clear the way in which those costs are being met. They will have no immediate impact on the electricity generating industry, although undoubtedly they represent a burden on the economy.

Does the right hon. Gentleman recall that during the miners' strike the churches in Wales produced what the Prime Minister would no doubt describe as a whole nest of cuckoos? Would it not have been right to pay more attention to that rare ornithological development? Why did he not seek to settle on such a fair proposition? Would it not have been better for Wales and the whole country?

I am afraid that the churches were unable to put forward a basis that held out any hope of a realistic settlement at a time when the leader of the NUM was not prepared, as he said, to give an inch.

May I remind the Secretary of State of the devastating impact that the proposed closure of Bedwas colliery will have on the Rhymney valley when we already have 10,000 unemployed and now face a further loss of 600-plus jobs? Is he aware that that closure was effected by underhand means by the NCB in Wales? Is he aware of the statement by the Secretary of State for Energy some months ago that the modified colliery review procedure was sacrosanct? Will the right hon. Gentleman confirm that that is Government policy and take steps to ensure that before any final decision is taken in respect of Bedwas that colliery is subject to the modified review procedure as agreed with the National Association of Colliery Overmen, Deputies and Shotfirers?

I understand that faces were lost at that colliery during the dispute, that those who work in the colliery have now voted on the issue, and that that is a question for the management of the NCB.

Does my right hon. Friend agree that the NCB in Wales has lost coal exports to France to the tune of 600,000 tonnes per annum, which is bound to tell on the Welsh economy and, in particular, on Welsh coal before output is brought to normality and the Welsh economy is stabilised?

I am glad to say that production in the coalfield is already getting back to normal. I heard last week from the chairmen of the NCB and of Associated British Ports that exports have already begun to flow through the south Wales ports. That is obviously an encouraging development and I hope that everyone will work to restore those important markets.

It is said that NCB (Enterprise) Ltd. is to be funded with £10 million. What share of that £10 million will Wales have? Does the Secretary of State realise that that £10 million—indeed more than that—could easily be spent in Wales? How much has he won for NCB (Enterprise) Ltd. in Wales?

It has been made clear that these are start-up resources to enable the operation to get off the ground. I understand that a high proportion of the proposals so far made involve Wales. At present there is no inhibition on the company's work arising from a shortage of funds.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the proposed A55 Northop bypass, giving a schedule of starting and completion dates for its construction.

I announced my decision on a route for the Northop bypass on 14 March. I have accepted the inspector's recommendation that the route in the published draft order to the north and east of the village should be adopted, though my Department will be discussing questions of access and severed land with the landowners affected. The provisional start date for the scheme is summer 1987, subject to the completion of the remaining statutory procedures and of engineering design. Construction work is expected to take about two years.

Why has the bypass starting date slipped from autumn 1986 to summer 1987? Does my hon. Friend remember his assurance to me on 25 October 1984 that the delay in announcing the outcome of the inquiry would not lead to a delay in the starting date? Does he realise that if this new starting date is followed there will be a period of more than two years when Northop village will be nothing more than a bottleneck between the completed Hawarden and Holywell bypasses?

I understand my hon. Friend's concern, but careful consideration had to be given to the issues involved. As the report made clear, the inspector found that some of the matters raised at the public inquiry required careful balancing. The provisional start date of summer 1987 accords with the time scale given in "Roads in Wales 1983". The statutory procedures, and the considerations of those of my hon. Friend's constituents who are affected, cannot easily be brushed aside.

Does the Minister agree that since the publication of the document "Roads in Wales 1983" there has been a good deal of slippage in respect of the A55 programme? Is it not a pretty lame excuse for the Welsh Office to talk about changing priorities and competing demands? Is it not obvious that such important road construction work should be given the highest possible priority?

Such work is, of course, given the highest possible priority. Those who understand the engineering problems involved—and there are many hon. Members who do — will realise that slippage is inevitable in some schemes—

Too many banana skins.

I thought that we were talking about roads rather than fruit. The hon. Gentleman made a statement that was grossly distorted. Some slippage occurs inevitably because of the difficulties involved, and because of the essential nature of the statutory procedures that protect the rights of those affected.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will indicate the latest position in respect of the construction of the section of the A465 trunk road linking Glynneath with Aberdulais; and if he will make a statement.

I am pleased to be able to tell the hon. Gentleman that I have decided to replace the existing A465 between Glynneath and Aberdulais with a dual carriageway along the previously announced route. Preparation of the scheme will now proceed and draft line, side roads and compulsory purchase orders will be published in due course.

I am grateful to the Minister for that information, and I thank the Secretary of State for taking note of the representations that were made to him 12 months ago. That road has been the cause of great concern, because there is a mounting toll of lost lives. On behalf of my constituents, may I say how much I appreciate the decision announced this afternoon?

I thank the hon. Gentleman.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the number of people currently unemployed in Wales; how many were unemployed in May 1979; and what is the percentage increase in unemployment in Wales since May 1979.

On 14 February 1985 there were 183,806 unemployed claimants in Wales. In May 1979 the estimated equivalent figure was 77,200, an increase of 138·1 per cent.

After six years the right hon. Gentleman can only tell us these unpleasant figures. Does he agree that the Budget offers few hopes of new jobs? What has he done to safeguard the future of Llanwern as a viable, integrated steelworks against a background of laggardly continental reorganisation? Does he agree that the Shotton works is also a miracle of efficiency and productivity, but that thousands of ex-steelworkers on Deeside still beg for work in a place where vacancies total only 300 and the jobless 13,000? When will the Sharp factory open, and when will the Shotton paper mill be on stream?

Both those major new job-creating projects in the hon. Gentleman's area of Wales will be starting on time. They are a sign of the scale of the new investment that is taking place. I agree that the Shotton steelworks is doing extremely well and I believe that Llanwern has guaranteed its future by its performance.

Would it not be refreshing, and even fantastic, if there were a positive approach from the Opposition Benches on this matter? Does my right hon. Friend welcome the coming together of HTV and the Western Mail for the Welsh national business awards scheme? Did my right hon. Friend welcome the comment by the assistant controller of HTV about the need to inform the people of the many real achievements by industry in Wales?

What the controller said is undoubtedly true. I am sure that everyone with an interest in the industrial future of Wales will take every opportunity to congratulate industry on its good performance and will take pleasure in the announcement of the large-scale new investment that we are securing.

How many of the 183,000 have been unemployed for over a year?

If the hon. Gentleman tables a question, I shall give him an immediate answer.

Does my right hon. Friend agree that if the concern expressed by the hon. Member for Alyn and Deeside (Mr. Jones) is to be taken seriously he must have the Welsh economic plan which he pulled out of a hat on 21 October last year independently costed and tell us where on Welsh earth he will find the money to pay for it?

I apologise to the hon. Member for Pontypridd (Mr. John) for not having immediately in front of me the figure he seeks. I accept that it is too high, and I am willing to answer a question about it. One of the most significant facts about the economic plan presented by the hon. Member for Alyn and Deeside (Mr. Jones) is that much of it has already been implemented by the Government.

Does the Secretary of State recall that each year since 1979, as he has initiated deflationary policies and refused capital investment, he has claimed that we were turning corners, that things were getting better and that the academics at Bangor and elsewhere were alarmist? As the jobless figures continue to climb, why should we have any faith in his pronouncements?

It is nonsense to talk of deflationary policies when clearly there is an increase in demand. My Department has carried out massive investment progammes on roads, factories and hospitals, and on infrastructure generally.

Does the Secretary of State agree that because of the Budget the WDA, WINvest and overseas companies are bound to expand, and to encourage and create more employment in Wales?

One of the most important aspects of the Budget is the announcement of the dramatic expansion of the youth training scheme and the investment that that involves for the future of training provision. That is only one of our many measures to deal with the current problems.

In response to the appalling record of increasing unemployment, will the Secretary of State give an assurance that he will resist any attempt by the Government, by the abolition of the wages councils, to cut the wages of the poorest who are employed? Will the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that instead of tinkering with the unemployment problem in that way he will accept that the real need is for a massive redistribution of wealth and income, and will he implement that policy in the near future?

We have issued a consultative paper on the wages councils in which the arguments are set out fully. We should now proceed with the consultation process. I hope that the hon. Gentleman welcomes the measures that were announced in the Budget to lower the cost of employing those on lower wages, because that will help in providing jobs for them.

Is the Secretary of State aware that the Cynon Valley is again top of the league table for male unemployment? Is he further aware that five men lost their jobs there last week, on the say-so of one man — Mr. Ian MacGregor? Two of those men were not even present when the so-called incident occurred. Will he intervene to reinstate those five men?

I shall not intervene in what must be management decisions for the National Coal Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many private schools received public funds in Wales in 1984.

In 1984, eight independent schools in Wales were reimbursed for remitted fees under the assisted places scheme and one received a grant under the direct grant scheme. Some schools will have received payments from boarding school allowances paid to some members of the armed, diplomatic and civil services or from local authorities in respect of children assisted by them.

Will the Minister confirm that £80,000 was paid to New College, Cardiff under the 1982 Industrial Development Act?

No, Sir. New College, Cardiff is an independent establishment of further education and not an independent school. The £80,000 has not yet been paid, as it was only an offer of a job creation grant.

Does the Minister realise that at a time when the country is facing economic ruin his Department is continuing to pay out vast sums to maintain the private education sector? Does he agree that those vast sums are not needed by those who receive them, but have the effect merely of maintaining their privileges? Will he give the House, or make available in the Library, a complete breakdown of how much public money is given to the private education system in Wales?

In the current academic year under the scheme 44 per cent. of pupils have a free place, and only 17 per cent. of families have an annual income in excess of £10,000. It should be borne in mind that fee remission is, broadly speaking, related to the gross income of the family, which in the case of two-parent families would include the earnings of both the husband and wife if they are working. I do not think that there can be any argument about the fact that the scheme is helping mainly the less-well-off families, in contradiction of the hon. Gentleman's assertion.

Have not Welsh Office Ministers sanctioned £2·2 million for the public schools sector between 1983 and 1986, including an estimated £1·1 million for 1985–86? Is the Minister aware that the Clwyd education authority has cut the capitation allowance to its primary schools by 10 per cent. and to its secondary schools by 5 per cent.? How does the Minister justify that odd policy when Her Majesty's Inspectorate has emphasised the serious impact of expenditure cuts on our state schools?

I am very proud to have been at Rugby school. I think that we are all proud of the schools that we attended. I do not accept the premise of the hon. Gentleman's question.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the value of grants from his Department to voluntary organisations in each of the last three years, at constant prices.

Grants paid to voluntary organisations in the current financial year total about £8·6 million. The amounts for the previous two years, adjusted to 1984–85 price levels, are £8 million in 1983–84 and £6·8 million in 1982–83.

I welcome that encouragement to voluntary organisations. What is the spread of the grants?

About 90 bodies are receiving grants this year. They are in four main areas: the personal social services, to which we give £1·7 million; further education and adult education, £3·3 million; voluntary education, £1·2 million; and Welsh language bodies, £1 million.

If the Secretary of State wishes to develop genuine collaboration between statutory and voluntary organisations, will the hon. Gentleman urge him to examine the problems caused by year-on-year funding and give more security of grant-aid over a number of years to assist with recruitment patterns and in developing proper services?

We are greatly concerned with the problem to which the hon. Gentleman refers and, certainly in Wales, we take care over joint funding programmes.

Is my hon. Friend aware of the tremendous efforts that are made in my constituency to raise funds by voluntary means for the National Eisteddfod, which is to be held in Rhyll this summer? Will he make a statement about his Department's contribution towards that?

I am happy to tell my hon. Friend that the National Eisteddfod next year will receive £232,000 from the Welsh Office alone. That is £12,000 more than the combined total of the Welsh Office and the Welsh Arts Council grant this year. As a result of concentrating the funding in the Welsh Office, the Eisteddfod loses nothing and the Welsh Arts Council gains from the Arts Council of Great Britain.

Before the Under-Secretary gets carried away with his propaganda exercise about the National Eisteddfod, will he turn his attention to the much more important issue of the funding of Welsh Women's Aid? What representations has he received recently from that organisation about the level of funding? Will he confirm that the present level of funding is wholly inadequate for Welsh Women's Aid to meet the increasing incidence of personal relationship breakdowns caused by unemployment?

Bids by Welsh Women's Aid for funding are dealt with in precisely the same way as other bids for funding. There is, of course, competition, but I am sure that the Welsh Women's Aid movement gets it proper deserts.

Amid all the largesse that is allegedly being distributed, will the Minister bear in mind that the town of Caldicot in the county of Gwent has to organise a dance to keep its citizens advice bureau in existence? Will he bear in mind the terrible social problems in the town, particularly the mass unemployment caused by the Government's economic policies? Will he see that such bodies are adequately funded?

I have no objection to—indeed, would encourage — voluntary bodies doing all that they possibly can to increase their funding. The Government add to the funds which they are able to collect for themselves. We have shown clearly, by the increase in funding provided to voluntary bodies, that we fully appreciate the work that they do and wish to encourage them to do more.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many people are unemployed in (a) Gwent and (b) Wales compared with 1979 as a total and a percentage; and of the total unemployed, how many are long-term unemployed.

On 14 February 1985 there were 29,350 unemployed claimants in Gwent. A comparable claimant-based figure for 1979 in Gwent is not available. On 14 February 1985 there were 183,806 unemployed claimants in Wales, an increase of 113·6 per cent. over the estimated figure of 86,044 for the same date in 1979.

When will the Government make a really determined attempt to remedy this terrible unemployment, bearing in mind that the Budget is already a busted flush? The Secretary of State has dangled the bait of Concast over the Llanwern steelworks for long enough. When will he deliver the goods?

I have not dangled the bait of Concast. That is a matter for the management of the steel industry, which has not yet taken decisions on Concast. I understand that it is considering that important programme. I remind the hon. Gentleman of the massive scale of investment in the Llanwern area to provide factories and the infrastructure for jobs since the rundown of the Llanwern steelworks.

Is it not a fact that included in the figures is some unemployment which has been caused by the impact of the coal strike? Is my right hon. Friend aware that some of the smaller companies which supply the National Coal Board have suffered rather seriously and that there has been a consequential loss of employment in that sector, too?

Undoubtedly there have been severe consequential effects, especially in Wales. I hope that we shall see a recovery during the current year, as energetic efforts are made to restore the NCB's operations in Wales. I can tell my hon. Friend that between 1983 and 1984 there seems to have been an above-average increase in Wales in the numbers of self-employed and small businesses starting up. Undoubtedly, these are encouragng trends.

Is the Secretary of State aware that last week the Chancellor of the Exchequer repeated his claim that we are now in the fourth year of economic recovery? Does the right hon. Gentleman claim that that applies to Wales, especially to those parts which have had over 20 per cent. unemployment throughout the four years?

We face a problem of rising output and investment at a time when the same output can be produced by fewer people. That means that the two statements are not incompatible. If the right hon. Gentleman does not understand that by now, it is hard to see how I can make the point to him again so that he does.

Is my right hon. Friend in a position to assess the number of jobs in British Rail that have been lost because of the refusal of the railway unions to carry material supplies through to Llanwern, and to comment on the attitude of the hon. Member for Newport, East (Mr. Hughes) during the dispute?

Undoubtedly business has been lost by the railways. We shall have to see whether that business can be recovered. I think I am right in saying that as a result of the coal strike about £25 million has been added to the loss made by the railways.

Is the Secretary of State aware that in Ogmore there are 8,000 out of work and that last Friday there were 101 vacancies available at the jobcentre? Is he further aware that the St. John's colliery in Maesteg, where currently 834 miners are employed, is threatened with closure? If the colliery is closed, male unemployment will increase to 45 per cent. in the Maesteg area alone. What effect will the Budget have and what can the Secretary of State do to reduce unemployment and provide a chance in future for the Maesteg area?

The local manager of the Welsh Development Agency has reported an increase of almost 100 per cent. in factory lettings to 140,000 sq ft in the Bridgend area for the 10 months of 1984–85 compared with the whole of 1983–84. A great deal of new investment is being made in the area, and that will help to provide the jobs that are undoubtedly needed.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales by how much spending on education in Wales has increased since 1979, compared with the period 1974 to 1979; and by how much the teacher-pupil ratio in Wales has changed since 1979.

Between the financial years 1978–79 and 1983–84, local authority education expenditure increased in cost terms by 0·7 per cent. compared with a decrease of 7·5 per cent. between 1974–75 and 1978–79. The overall pupil-teacher ratio was 18·2:1 in January and 17·3:1 in January 1984.

Does my hon. Friend agree that those remarkable figures show that the only cuts in education expenditure during the past decade have taken place under a Labour Government? Does he further agree that the industrial dispute involving the teachers is causing damage to education in Wales?

I certainly agree with my hon. Friend. The figures do not lend support to those who claim that heavy cuts have occurred since 1979. In 1983–84 current expenditure on education, excluding school meals and milk, was almost 4 per cent. greater in cost terms than in 1978–79, but between those years pupil numbers fell by 11 per cent. and teacher numbers by only 6 per cent. I urge the teachers to set a good example.

What would be the effect on those figures if the Clegg award, which was made in 1979–80, were taken into account? Does the hon. Gentleman agree that that Clegg award distorts the figures? Does he further agree that if the figures were adjusted to take account of that award education expenditure would be shown to have decreased under the present Tory Administration and to have increased under the previous Labour Adminstration?

I cannot agree with the hon. Gentleman. The Clegg award was taken into the account in the figures that I cited.

No.

I assure the hon. Gentleman and the House that it was.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the current level of unemployment in Merthyr Tydfil and the Rhymney valley; and what percentage increase this is over the figures for May 1979.

On 14 February 1985 the number of unemployed claimants in the Merthyr and Rhymney travel-to-work area was 10,781. Comparable figures for May 1979 are not available because of changes to travel-to-work area boundaries and the move to claimant-based figures.

Among those horrifying figures is the total job loss after the closure of Hymac. Does the Secretary of State recall the repeated appeals that we all made to him and to the Government to act to stop the dumping of Japanese products on our market? Only now, after all those jobs have been lost, have the Government imposed a 33·33 per cent. tariff on Japanese products coming on to our market. Will the right hon. Gentleman take heed of this sad lesson and support action against cheap and unsafe lifebelts, domestic appliances and washing machines coming on to the British market and take more direct action to protect our jobs? The Secretary of State did nothing for Hymac.

The hon. Gentleman is aware that we have to provide evidence and obtain the agreement of the Community to take such measures. As a country which not only benefits enormously from international trade but is increasing its exports, Britain must be exceedingly careful about the way in which that is done. As I have told the hon. Gentleman frequently, if he will provide evidence, I shall be happy to pass it on to the Department of Trade and Industry, which is responsible for these matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the percentage rate of inoculation and vaccination of children for measles, whooping cough, and polio in the last two years for which figures are available.

The percentages of children in Wales vaccinated by their second birthday against measles, whooping cough and poliomyelitis in 1982 were 40 per cent., 33 per cent. and 81 per cent., respectively. In 1983—the latest year for which figures are available—the comparable percentages were 44 per cent., 42 per cent. and 82 per cent.

Does my hon. Friend agree that the take-up of vaccination for measles and whooping cough is alarmingly low, not least in view of the fact that measles is a disease that can be eliminated, as was smallpox? Does he further agree that people are laying themselves and their children wide open to severe suffering, and possibly death? What steps is my hon. Friend's Department taking to popularise and spread the take-up of these vaccinations?

My hon. Friend is correct. There are good take-up rates for poliomyelitis, diptheria and tetanus vaccinations, but they need to be proved still further. Uptake rates for other vaccinations, including measles and whooping cough, are far from satisfactory. We intend to continue to improve the way in which we put the case for immunisation against those diseases.

The vast majority of the states in America are now totally measles-free. When can we look forward to a Wales that is totally measles-free? What percentage of children receiving the diptheria vaccination also receive the whooping cough vaccination, and what percentage do not receive the whooping cough vaccination?

The hon. Gentleman is well aware that the uptake of the measles vaccination in Wales has not been all that good. Similarly, the uptake of whooping cough vaccination is nothing like as good as that of polio vaccination. That is presumably because of the adverse reactions that are remotely possible with those vaccinations. However, I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will be pleased to know that the measles vaccination rate in Wales since 1978 has improved by 17 percentage points. We launched a major drive last year aimed at increasing the uptake among pre-school and primary school children and achieving a 90 per cent. uptake among children in the second year of life by 1990, with the eventual aim of eliminating the disease.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate the number of pupil-hours lost in Wales in consequence of the current teachers' pay dispute.

It is not possible to make a reliable estimate from the information that is available centrally. However, a substantial number of schools have been closed or disrupted by industrial action in recent weeks, and I greatly deplore the harm that that is doing to the education of our children at this crucial time in the academic year.

Is my hon. Friend aware that most teachers recognise perfectly well that they have no chance whatever of winning this naughty strike against a Government as resolute as the present one? Will my hon. Friend also consider that teaching is a vocation, not merely a profession, and that in dealing with the teachers he would do well to listen to what is being said by responsible trade union leaders, such as the leader of the Professional Association of Teachers and the leader of the National Union of Teachers in my constituency, who have called upon the teachers to accept arbitration?

I am aware that there are mixed views within the profession, but the Government deplore the industrial action being taken by members of the NUT and the National Association of Schoolmasters/Union of Women Teachers. The effects on children's education are severe and can never be fully rectified. Teachers must consider whether strikes and other forms of industrial action help their cause. In my opinion, they can only damage the children, the education service as a whole and, by turning the community against them, the teachers themselves. Hurting pupils is the wrong way of proceeding.

Does the Minister of State accept his responsibility and that of the Government in precipitating this industrial dispute? Will he now confirm that the Government's policy of imposing limits upon local authorities' finance makes it impossible for them to meet the teachers' claim or to negotiate freely with them?

I accept none of the comments that the hon. Gentleman has just made. As I have said several times at the Dispatch Box, and again today, the management of resources is a matter for the local education authorities. There have been no drastic cuts in the provision for education, despite the allegations that have been made. It is for local education authorities to manage their resources wisely and efficiently to maintain the standards in education that we all wish.

What is the Minister of State doing to resolve the dispute? Will the Government intervene in a positive manner? If the dispute goes to arbitration, will the Government guarantee that the award will be backed by Government funds?

It is clear that there is not the money available to meet the teachers' demands. Therefore, it is for them to come back and negotiate a sensible settlment, which could be achieved by sitting down and talking sensibly about the restructuring of the profession.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the confidentiality of patient records in the National Health Service in Wales.

The Data Protection Act 1984 requires health authorities and family practitioner committees to adopt new practices for handling personal health records. The Welsh Office has recently consulted health authorities and other interests in Wales about a draft code on confidentiality of personal health information and comments received are being considered. I shall announce my conclusions in due course.

I thank the Minister for his reply. Will he confirm that patient records should be confidential between doctor and patient and that they should not be released to an outside body, whatever the circumstances, without the patient's express permission?

That is the case. We are consulting on the character of the code and will make our views known in due course.

Are considerations of confidentiality inhibiting the computerisation of family practitioner committee records, on which depend the accuracy and reliability of recall for patients, especially as regards screening for cervical cancer?

I am not aware of computerisation and data protection holding up progress such as the hon. Gentleman mentioned.

In view of recent publicity concerning referrals for cervical cancer screening, has the Minister made inquiries in Wales to ascertain the efficiency of the system? Will he take this opportunity to make it clear that responsibility for issuing notification does not lie with the laboratories that carry out the tests?

The hon. Gentleman is right. We have made inquiries, and proper instructions have been issued.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his latest information regarding the consequences in Wales of the coal mining strike in loss of coal production, revenue for British Rail, production of steel, production of tinplate, injurious effects on other industries and in consequential loss of jobs; and what consultations he will have with the Confederation of British Industry, leaders of nationalised industries and private industries, local councils and public authorities and with trade unions to seek to secure the earliest possible recovery from these consequences.

In South Wales, some 7 million tonnes have been lost and 11 coal faces have been destroyed. Progress towards viability has been seriously disrupted and vital investment has been delayed. British Rail in Wales attributes losses of some £25 million to the strike. That is the figure that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Clwyd, North-West (Sir A. Meyer) a few moments ago. That is for the losses in Wales. The British Steel Corporation had to meet extra costs of keeping its customers supplied, but no separate figures for Wales are available. The impact on other areas has been small. I shall continue to maintain close contact with all sectors involved in the Welsh economy.

Can my right hon. Friend assure us that there will be early consultation with all those I have mentioned, and others, who are anxious to ensure the earliest and most complete recovery from the effects of the recent stoppage?

I keep in close contact with all interested groups in Wales. If anyone has any particular representations to put to me on that matter, I am ready to receive them.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what are the latest unemployment figures available for (i) Ogmore constituency, (ii) Mid Glamorgan county council and (iii) Wales.

On 14 January 1985 the numbers of unemployed claimants were 4,690, 35,756 and 183,806, respectively.

Further to a question that I asked earlier about Ogmore and unemployment there, is the Secretary of State aware that 2,000 people in the borough are applying for rented council accommodation but that the local authority is not funded sufficiently to house more than 100 a year for the next five years? Is he further aware that 50,000 construction workers are out of work in Wales? Is it not time that we started to build the houses, hospitals, schools and sheltered accommodation that people in the area need?

The hon. Gentleman, of all people, should be aware that we have just completed and handed over on time a district general hospital in his area. That is extremely creditable. It is part of a massive hospital building programme in the Principality.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what impact he expects his policies to have on the level of unemployment in Wales.

Beneficial.

I genuinely believe that the Secretary of State wants to bring employment to Wales, but what is he doing to persuade his Cabinet colleagues about the need in the Principality to stop our sewers crumbling to pieces, our housing stock declining at an alarming rate, our railway track being in danger of being pulled up, and our roads being inadequate? When will he persuade the Government to start a programme of development and public spending to keep our infrastructure from rotting to pieces?

We are conducting a massive programme of road construction in the hon. Gentleman's part of Wales. Industrial Planning and Development, in its January edition, reported that 1984 was a momentous year at Wrexham. Approximately 400,000 sq ft of factory space was let or purchased, 50 acres of industrial land was acquired by clients, and more than 1,000 new job opportunities will be provided by those developments. I know of more than 1,500 new jobs that will be provided by major industrial developments in the hon. Gentleman's constituency, which have been announced during the past 12 months.

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I wish to give notice that I shall raise a point of order on Welsh questions after questions on the Arts.