Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Maria Caulfield and Guto Bebb

Wednesday 25th May 2016 Commons Chamber

[Guto Bebb]

The hon. Lady is absolutely right to highlight the importance of the agricultural industry to Wales. Almost 60,000 people are directly employed within the sector, and more than 95% of all Welsh agricultural exports go to the European Union, so I fully subscribe to her view that the Welsh agricultural sector will be protected if we vote to remain in the EU.

[Maria Caulfield (Lewes) (Con)]

5. What recent assessment he has made of trends in the level of employment in Wales.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Guto Bebb)]

The labour market in Wales is going from strength to strength. Last week’s figures delivered a hat-trick of good news for the Welsh economy: employment is up to a new record high, unemployment is down to its lowest level since 2008, and the number of people on the claimant count continues to fall.

[Maria Caulfield]

Do not the Minister’s figures show that the Government’s welfare reforms are working in Wales and helping employment for ordinary people?