MSP WELCOMES FALL IN SCOTTISH UNEMPLOYMENT

MSP WELCOMES FALL IN SCOTTISH UNEMPLOYMENT

FEWER PEOPLE CLAIMING JOBSEEKERS ALLOWANCE FOR SECOND MONTH IN A ROW
Joe Fitzpatrick MSP has welcomed the latest Scottish employment figures published today, which show that the numbers of people claiming Jobseekers Allowance in Scotland fell by 900 during March.

GDP figures, also released today, show that Scotland’s economy moved out of recession in the last quarter of 2009.
Mr Fitzpatrick, the SNP MSP for Dundee West, said:
“Today’s second consecutive monthly fall in the number of people who are out of work in Scotland is encouraging news. It shows that the concerted efforts by the SNP Government to protect and create jobs is paying off.

“There’s no doubt that the Scottish job market has taken a severe hit during the economic downturn but, thanks to the Scottish Government’s Economic Recovery Plan, Scotland has weathered the storm better than other parts of the UK, with a better position on average on employment rates, ILO unemployment rates and economic inactivity and a shorter period spent in recession.

“The task now is to continue to build the recovery, create jobs and get people back into work. That task has been made harder by the cuts being imposed by the UK government on the Scottish budget, but the SNP is nonetheless taking action to target resources towards jobs and regeneration, only this week directing £31 million in European funding towards vital infrastructure and urban and rural regeneration projects.

“SNP policies such as the Small Business Bonus and the council tax freeze have supported jobs and businesses and helped hard-pressed households through the downturn.

“What’s needed now is for whoever controls the UK purse-strings to respond to the Scottish Government’s urgent calls to accelerate capital spending, so that the SNP can get even more unemployed Scots back to work and secure a sustainable recovery for the whole of the Scottish economy.”