Youth Unemployment still a huge problem

Whilst I join my colleague Kezia Dugdale, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Youth Unemployment, in cautiously welcoming the news that both North and South Lanarkshire will benefit from the Scottish Government’s youth employment strategy fund, it is vital that this money is not just a one-off headline grabber, but is invested in a sensible way to produce employment opportunities over a sustained period.

Last week’s latest round of unemployment statistics once again made for depressing reading, especially in North Lanarkshire, where the latest figures show the claimant count amongst 16-24 year-olds (those claiming jobseekers allowance) is now at 10.1%, up from 9.4% this time last year, and well above the Scottish and UK average.

Under this SNP Government Scotland has become locked in a downward spiral of unemployment, with women and young people bearing the brunt of the crisis.  Last month North Lanarkshire Council, in common with other local authorities such as Falkirk and South Lanarkshire, announced significant investment in projects to get local people into work.

Following the publication of its Youth Employment Strategy I urged the Government to learn from the employment initiatives being launched by local authorities. Instead, on the day on which Youth Unemployment Minister Angela Constance described youth unemployment as “endemic”, we learned that the Government’s own careers advisory agency, Skills Development Scotland, plans to cut 10% of its staff across Scotland, with 60% of those cuts to key frontline workers in North Lanarkshire.

This will mean that school leavers in North Lanarkshire will receive less face to face careers advice, and flies in the face of the Scottish Government’s stated commitment to addressing youth unemployment in Scotland.

Central Scotland has so much to offer

Last week I spoke in a parliamentary debate on the future of tourism in Scotland.

This gave me a welcome opportunity to highlight the wealth of tourist attractions located across Central Scotland.

As a Central Scotland MSP, I span three local authority areas, and every single one has a lot to offer.

Visitors to (or residents of) North Lanarkshire can experience Scotland’s industrial heritage at the Sumerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life, sample the tranquil delights of Drumpellier Country Park, or engage in more active pursuits at Strathclyde Country Park, a major water sports venue and home to theme park M&D’s.

South Lanarkshire has some of Scotland’s finest scenic and historical attractions, such as Chatelherault Park, Low Park Museum (both rated 5 star by VisitScotland), and Hamilton Mausoleum.

And no visit to Falkirk is complete without a trip to the Falkirk Wheel, the World’s first and only rotating boat lift, and one of Lonely Planet’s 10 works of engineering genius.

Tourism provides and creates jobs and boosts the economy. It is therefore vital that we realise our potential as a major tourist location. The Government should look at ways of extending opening hours to suit working families, and should continue to invest in the transport infrastructure, to maximise accessibility.

Housing Debate

I recently spoke in a debate on housing in the Scottish Parliament. There are currently about 56,000 homeless people in Scotland, 10,000 more than in the mid 1990’s, whilst 36% of homeless households include people under the age of 24.

The problem is especially acute in West and Central Scotland: figures for 2009/10 show that, of Scotland’s 32 local authorities, South Lanarkshire had the 4^th most homeless applications, with 3,054. North Lanarkshire was 5^th, with 2,975, and Falkirk 7th, with   2,378. Meanwhile, over 169,000 Scottish households are on council house waiting lists, and 53% of social housing in Scotland is situated in the 15% most deprived areas.

Under the terms of the “2012 Commitment” all homelessness applications must be assessed as priority. In effect, this means all homeless applicants must be housed. Depending on which document you read, the SNP Government has either pledged to build 6000 socially rented homes or 6000 “affordable” homes in each year of the Scottish Parliament. However, SNP spending plans reveal that only 1550 socially rented homes will be built this year, along with 1000 for owner occupiers.  This leaves a shortfall of over 3000. It is difficult to see how councils will clear their council house waiting lists, let alone meet the 2012 commitment.

 I recently visited Barnado’s Youth Housing Support Service in North Lanarkshire, which provides crisis intervention and group work support to young people aged between 16-24 years. Many of these young people have suffered physical abuse, and problems with drug and alcohol addiction. Their need for a stable and supportive home cannot be overstated.

During the debate I called on the Scottish Government to reform the Community Care Grant to ensure that it is consistently and correctly applied across the country, and that everything is done to help vulnerable young people secure long term homes that are safe, warm, and fully furnished. I am pleased to report that Alex Neil, Cabinet Secretary for Capital Investment and Infrastructure, has pledged to ‘look seriously at these suggestions to see whether we can take them forward.’