Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 09 March 2011
09 Mar 2011 · S3 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Employment Services (Edinburgh)
I want to support most of what has been said by my Edinburgh colleagues, in particular Dr McKee and Malcolm Chisholm, and Robin Harper—och, I may as well chuck in Margaret Smith as well. We do not really disagree in our analysis of Edinburgh, which is that as well as being Scotland’s capital and rather a special place, it is also a place that mops up many of the people who are in real difficulties during the recession. They drift into cities—that is well known—so the call on the city’s services is even more pronounced.
The employment and help to get into work projects to which Malcolm Chisholm referred are the key to this. If even one of the projects in group 5—the group least likely, it is analysed at this stage, to obtain the funding that they have at present—is lost, there will be a considerable loss to the city. As Robin Harper reminded us in relation to the up-to-date figures, we have not yet felt the tsunami in Edinburgh. Because of employment patterns, we have not yet felt the worst of it.
More and more young people in particular are being robbed of a future. I know that the minister shares my sympathy for younger people, particularly those from more traumatised areas who have even less chance of making it through. Even though we have had acknowledgement through the capital city supplement, I still urge the minister to see Edinburgh as a very special case—a particular case that needs just that bit more help because it has more to cope with in the way of creating jobs for young people. The facts are undeniable and I hope that the minister will bear them in mind.
I acknowledge that those of us who urge further spend on the Government are supposed to say where the money will come from. I am not as clever as that—I just hope that the minister has some in reserve.
13:54
The employment and help to get into work projects to which Malcolm Chisholm referred are the key to this. If even one of the projects in group 5—the group least likely, it is analysed at this stage, to obtain the funding that they have at present—is lost, there will be a considerable loss to the city. As Robin Harper reminded us in relation to the up-to-date figures, we have not yet felt the tsunami in Edinburgh. Because of employment patterns, we have not yet felt the worst of it.
More and more young people in particular are being robbed of a future. I know that the minister shares my sympathy for younger people, particularly those from more traumatised areas who have even less chance of making it through. Even though we have had acknowledgement through the capital city supplement, I still urge the minister to see Edinburgh as a very special case—a particular case that needs just that bit more help because it has more to cope with in the way of creating jobs for young people. The facts are undeniable and I hope that the minister will bear them in mind.
I acknowledge that those of us who urge further spend on the Government are supposed to say where the money will come from. I am not as clever as that—I just hope that the minister has some in reserve.
13:54
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Alex Fergusson)
NPA
We come to a members’ business debate on motion S3M-7806, in the name of Sarah Boyack, on Edinburgh employment services facing a funding cut. The debate will...
Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab)
Lab
I thank colleagues for supporting my motion and for ensuring that the issue is raised properly in Parliament.We are in the middle of a recession, and the sit...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
The debate must conclude by 5 minutes past 2.13:29
Shirley-Anne Somerville (Lothians) (SNP)
SNP
I congratulate Sarah Boyack on lodging her motion and allowing MSPs to discuss this important issue for Edinburgh. However, we need to put the debate into so...
Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab)
Lab
One of my favourite quotes from the economist Keynes is:“Take care of employment and the budget will take care of itself.”That is an oversimplification, but ...
Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD)
LD
I add my thanks to Sarah Boyack for securing this important debate. I also thank the unions, the partnership workforce, the people from the connected service...
Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green)
Green
I thank Sarah Boyack for bringing the topic to the chamber for debate.I ask the Government to think carefully about what will happen about four years down th...
Ian McKee (Lothians) (SNP)
SNP
I, too, very much welcome the debate and congratulate Sarah Boyack on securing it. She was my political opponent in the first Scottish parliamentary election...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I call Margo MacDonald, after which I will ask the minister to wind up the debate.13:52
Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (Ind)
Ind
I will take as short a time as possible, Presiding Officer.
The Presiding Officer
NPA
You can take just about as long as you like.
Margo MacDonald
Ind
Are you feeling well, Presiding Officer? Gosh, things have changed—and I thought it was all the same.
The Presiding Officer
NPA
You have up to five minutes, Ms MacDonald.
Margo MacDonald
Ind
I want to support most of what has been said by my Edinburgh colleagues, in particular Dr McKee and Malcolm Chisholm, and Robin Harper—och, I may as well chu...
The Minister for Housing and Communities (Alex Neil)
SNP
I congratulate Sarah Boyack on securing the debate and on the tone that she adopted in introducing it, and I pay tribute to the work of Tom Buchanan, the cha...
Margo MacDonald
Ind
I greatly appreciate the effort that has been made on apprenticeships, but many of the schemes that the motion refers to are ones that are needed to prepare ...
Alex Neil
SNP
I am coming to that. The apprenticeships are extremely important because, no matter how much preparation young people do, if the apprenticeships and jobs are...
Robin Harper
Green
Will the minister take an intervention?
Alex Neil
SNP
I do not have time.I recognise the importance of the Edinburgh Capital City Partnership. Edinburgh will benefit substantially from the additional measures th...
Margaret Smith
LD
Will the minister give way?
Alex Neil
SNP
I do not have time.The Government recognises the importance of the Capital City Partnership and I and John Swinney have been working closely with the City of...