NUMBERS EMPLOYED IN POLICE and HEALTH INCREASING

NUMBERS EMPLOYED IN POLICE and HEALTH INCREASING

SNP DELIVER POLICE NUMBERS and PROTECT FRONTLINE JOBS

Dr Alasdair Allan MSP – a member of the Scottish Parliament’s Communities and Local Government Committee – has welcomed today’s publication of public sector employment figures which shows that employment in the important frontline services of policing and health is increasing.

Previously released figures already show there are over 1000 more police on Scotland’s streets today than when the SNP were voted into Government in May 2007; and today’s statistics show there are 1,400 more in police and related services between the second quarter of 2008 to the second quarter of 2009.

And over the same period the statistics show there are 3,200 more people employed in the NHS including doctors, nurses, GPs and dentists.

Commenting on these statistics Dr Allan said:

“These figures show the SNP’s commitment to protecting front line services in these times of public spending challenges.

“We are committed to a healthier and safer Scotland and putting more police on the streets and ensuring more doctors, nurses, GPs and dentists we are delivering on those pledges.

“In 2007 the SNP said we would put more bobbies on the beat. In Government the SNP have met that pledge.

“We have fewer people in quangos thanks to the SNP Government cutting the number of public bodies from 199 to 162, with plans to go further, and more people in frontline health services.

“And the total number of people employed in education in Scotland has increased by 1,300 since the second quarter of 2007, when the SNP took office.

“While there is absolutely no room for complacency, the Scottish economy as a whole is performing better than the rest of the UK, with significantly lower unemployment and higher employment levels.

“It is now time for the opposition to have the good grace to accept that there are over 1000 more police on our streets and more people in frontline health services.“