Michael Connarty MP calls on SNP government to act over unemployment

Scottish Labour MP Michael Connarty has today called on the SNP government to stop sitting on its hands and take action to retrain people facing redundancy.

In England, the Government today announced an extra £58 million pounds to retrain people at risk.

This is the second time in three months that the Government has made a multi-million pound investment in schemes to help people retrain for work, but the SNP have not followed suit in Scotland.

The MP for Linlithgow and East Falkirk, who chairs the European Scrutiny Committee, called on the SNP Government to follow the lead of the UK Government and use the European Social Fund money for skills, training and apprenticeships to help people back into work.

Scotland receives funding direct from the ESF and currency exchange rates provide an extra cash boost to the value of the funds.

The SNP also failed to take specific action when the same matter arose in October. A payment from the ESF was used in England and Wales for retraining, but no similar schemes were set up by the SNP government, disadvantaging any Scot facing redundancy.

Michael Connarty MP said: "It beggars belief that the SNP are failing to act on unemployment. Jim Mather may be a supporter of laissez-faire trickle-down economics, but the rest of Scotland want investment in our workforce to build our way out of economic difficulties.

“The UK Government is acting by using the European Social Funds particularly right now, with exchange rates helping the value of those funds. Why won't the SNP government act?

"In addition, the continuing disaster that is the Scottish Futures Trust is hurting the construction industry right across Scotland. At the very time we should be building new schools, hospitals, rail-lines and roads - and helping put construction workers back to work - the SNP tell us we have to wait for their scheme that doesn’t exist."

A spokesperson for Scottish Labour added: "People at risk of redundancy in England and Wales will at least have the sober satisfaction of knowing that there is money there to help them re-skill. No such luck for Scots, as the SNP refuse to use the ESF money for the same purpose.

"The SNP should not reject good ideas just because they come from Westminster. Scots deserve better than SNP ministers who are willing to play politics with their jobs and services. While Labour is providing real help, the SNP is rapidly becoming the do-nothing party of Scottish politics."

ENDS

Notes

1. On 15 October, the UK Government pledged £100 million of ESF funding to a programme to train people at risk of redundancy.

2. Today, the UK Government pledged another £58 million to the scheme as new from the ESF.

3. The ESF is calculated in euros, so today’s currency exchange rates benefit the UK in this respect

4. With the extra money announced today, in England:

a. More services will be targeted at people who are at risk or have very recently lost their jobs, rather than just the long term unemployed. Colleges will get funds so people can get the help they need without having to go to the jobcentre

b. There will be more money for short term pre-employment training for an extra 40,000 people

c. There will be a increased provision of advice on careers and the training available to help people get the jobs that are available, in person, over the phone, or online.

d. New support for employers taking on people who are currently out work and claiming benefits so they can access free support for training even if the employee already has an equivalent level qualification - so that they can refresh old qualifications or obtain new ones.

e. An increased focus on regional coordination to ensure that local bodies and colleges react much quicker to redundancies so that people losing jobs can be quickly notified of relevant opportunities and suitable training organised.