Hansard

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 some sort of context. The Scottish Government’s commitment to training and jobs is in no doubt. That was again confirmed in the recent budget debate. Notwithstanding a cut of somewhere in the region of £1.3 billion, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth was able to announce a budget that made provision for 25,000 modern apprenticeships, 1,200 new college places, 2,000 extra flexible training opportunities and a commitment of £15 million for further education bursary funding, as well as employment support in the private sector. All of Scotland, including Edinburgh, will benefit from that.

However, during the budget debate, the cabinet secretary heard about a particular situation that has arisen in Edinburgh. He recognised the importance of the role of the Capital City Partnership and acknowledged the representations that he had received on the issue from across the political spectrum, as Sarah Boyack said. I shared those concerns and wrote to the cabinet secretary back in January.

The partnership supports a number of excellent projects, some of which MSPs from all parties will have had the privilege of visiting to see at first hand the help that they provide to disadvantaged groups that require support to find employment. Rightly, the Government has pointed out in response to some parliamentary questions on the issue that it is not about a withdrawal of fairer Scotland funding that has been allocated in accordance with evidence on levels of need, in the usual way—those resources will be retained and maintained in the 2011-12 local government settlement. It has also correctly been pointed out that the City of Edinburgh Council will additionally benefit from further funding, including a successful joint bid with Midlothian Council for European structural funding, which will deliver employability and training services for the unemployed. Those services will range from early engagement through to in-work support and skills development.

Today, we are discussing funding over and above that—the £2.38 million that funded particular projects in Edinburgh. In the face of almost impossible cuts to the Government’s budget, it is understandable that such additional funding should come under serious pressure. However, funding for the projects can continue, if we find the required resources elsewhere. I readily acknowledge that, in reality, that is far easier said than done. Just like the Scottish Government, local authorities are facing significant budgetary pressures. In that regard, it is entirely appropriate to commend the City of Edinburgh Council, especially Councillor Tom Buchanan, on its sensible and measured response to the problem. In the first place, Councillor Buchanan has done all that he can to find transitional funding to close much of the gap for next year. Furthermore, I am sure that the minister and others will have no problem in agreeing that Councillor Buchanan has paid particular attention to the issue in recent months and has been a persistent advocate for additional funding, both in private and in public. He is to be commended on the role that he has played.

Ultimately, I believe that Councillor Buchanan and the council have made the case for some measure of additional funding. The council has produced a variety of figures. To my mind, the most significant of those is the number of school leavers in Edinburgh who are unemployed, which is far higher than the figures for the other three major cities and is far above the Scottish average. I urge the Scottish Government to continue to do all that it can to ensure that the services that are aimed at tackling that issue, in particular, are not harmed.

Given the sensible and measured approach that the council has taken and the significant steps that it has already taken to source alternative funding, I hope that the minister will be able to make a positive announcement today.

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