Chamber
Plenary, 11 Jan 2007
11 Jan 2007 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Highlands (Young People)
General Questions
I have referred to steps that I and people in other departments have taken to disperse jobs. The Executive remains committed to job dispersal as a whole.
A distinction must be drawn between Sutherland and Caithness in the statistics that Rob Gibson quotes. There are real challenges in Caithness. I am not one of those, like Mr Gibson, who believe that the future of the nuclear industry is in the past; rather, I believe that it has a positive future and that it and other industries can flourish in Caithness and that economic and employment opportunities can be provided to people that the Scottish National Party would deny them. Because of its blinkered approach to the nuclear energy industry, the SNP would exacerbate the problems that Caithness and Sutherland are facing.
A distinction must be drawn between Sutherland and Caithness in the statistics that Rob Gibson quotes. There are real challenges in Caithness. I am not one of those, like Mr Gibson, who believe that the future of the nuclear industry is in the past; rather, I believe that it has a positive future and that it and other industries can flourish in Caithness and that economic and employment opportunities can be provided to people that the Scottish National Party would deny them. Because of its blinkered approach to the nuclear energy industry, the SNP would exacerbate the problems that Caithness and Sutherland are facing.
In the same item of business
1. Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD):
LD
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage young people to live and work in the Highlands. (S2O-11594)
The Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning (Allan Wilson):
Lab
Our key strategies, which include determined to succeed, our targeted support for people in the not in education, employment or training group and our fundin...
Mr Stone:
LD
Does the minister acknowledge that a major barrier to young people staying in the Highlands is the lack of affordable housing, particularly in areas of high ...
Allan Wilson:
Lab
I largely agree with that prognosis. We must get the fundamentals right, which means creating economic and employment opportunities. The record-high employme...
Mr Alasdair Morrison (Western Isles) (Lab):
Lab
It is highly appropriate that the minister who moved Scottish Natural Heritage's headquarters closer to the heritage that it is paid to monitor and protect i...
Allan Wilson:
Lab
I agree. The Executive and I take pride in the decision that took Scottish Natural Heritage to Inverness. Our relocation policy represents a good example of ...
Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP):
SNP
Recent ministerial answers show that more than 10 per cent of 16 to 24-year-olds left Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross in 2000-01 and it is likely that ...
Allan Wilson:
Lab
I have referred to steps that I and people in other departments have taken to disperse jobs. The Executive remains committed to job dispersal as a whole.A di...
Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con):
Con
The minister will be aware that ferry services are particularly important if we want to keep young people on our islands. Is he aware of what has recently ha...
Allan Wilson:
Lab
I will look out my spade. To take the issue seriously, I am not aware of those circumstances, but I will discuss what has happened with the Minister for Tran...