RURAL UNEMPLOYMENT IN WALES 2ND HIGHEST IN UK - WILLIAMS

10.34.37am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 8th Apr 2009

Roger Williams, MP for Brecon and Radnorshire and Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Wales, has called for more to be done to tackle unemployment in rural Wales, after a parliamentary question he tabled has revealed that Wales has the 2nd highest rural unemployment rate in the UK.

The figures released show that Wales has 4.3% unemployed in rural areas, 2nd only to the North East of England (4.6%).

Mr Williams said:

"It is hugely disappointing that Wales has so many rural unemployed and the figures for urban unemployed do not make much happier reading, making Wales the 4th highest for urban unemployment.

"The Government, both in Westminster and at the Assembly, must do more to assist those people who find themselves out of work, particularly in remote areas where job opportunities, travel links and other public services are so much harder to access."

NOTES:

The question tabled by Roger Williams MP can be found here:

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2009-04-01a.266450.h&s=speaker%3A11324#g266450.q0