Kevin Paterson
Scottish Labour Party candidate for Stornoway North
Statement :
“I am currently Chair of the Western Isles Forum of Tenant and Residents’ Associations, Chair of the Regional Tenants Network, and a member of the Scottish Governments Housing Policy Advisory Group.
“I believe in listening to people, helping them and putting them first. “
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Western Isles economy stagnant, says Rhoda Grant MSP
21 April 2012
The UK
Con-Dem Government's austerity programme has produced a stagnant economy in the
Western Isles says Rhoda Grant MSP.
The latest unemployment figures for the Western Isles for March show that there
are 566 unemployed , claiming Job Seekers Allowance, ( 3.1 per cent)
These compare
with previous months :
583 in February 2012 ( 3.6 per cent)
554 in January 2012 (3.4 per cent)
The number of registered vacancies was 26.
Commenting on the figures, Rhoda Grant said,
"The UK Con-Dem Government's austerity programme has produced a stagnant economy in the Western Isles.
" Reducing spending too far and too fast has served the Western Isles badly with over 560 unemployed people competing for just 26 job vacancies .
"Instead of this, economic growth must be built on getting people back into work, providing them with money to spend on local goods and services to revive the local economy.
"This is the progressive way forward for the Western Isles ".
Unemployment in the Highlands and Islands has risen by almost 1,000 since last November
16 February 2012
The numbers claiming Job Seekers Allowance across the council areas on Highland, Moray, Argyll and Bute, Western Isles , Orkney and Shetland has increased by 989 between November 2011 and January of this year.
Commenting on the figures, Rhoda Grant MSP said,
"The Highlands and Islands over-riding priorities in recent months have remained the need for solid, sustained investment in jobs
"The SNP Government’s priorities have been Alex Salmond’s non-appearance on TV as a rugby pundit and further talks about the process of the referendum but nothing about what they mean by separation.
" The Scottish Government must reverse its priorities and policies to put the Highlands and Islands on the path of economic growth and recovery"
The figures for each council area
Western Isles
Number unemployed in November 2011 - 518 ; January 2012 - 554 increase 36
Orkney
Number unemployed in November 2011 - 248 ; January 2012 - 264 increase 16
Shetland
Number unemployed in November 2011 - 191 ; January 2012 - 221 increase 30
Argyll and Bute
Number unemployed in November 2011 - 1,909 ; January 2012 - 2,105 increase 196
Moray
Number unemployed in November 2011 - 1,343 ; January 2012 - 1,592 increase 249
Highland
Number unemployed in November 2011 - 3,889 ; January 2012 - 4,351 increase 462
Total increase 989
Council faces" significant reductions from standstill budget"
16 January 2012
The standstill allocation of money by the Scottish Government for council services in Western Isles mean " significant reductions in real terms for Western Isles Council to spend on its services for the public " over the next three years, according to Rhoda Grant MSP.
She said
,"When these allocations are looked at again taking into account the effect of price rises , a different picture emerges from the so-called ‘same level of funding’ claim.
"Next year, the Scottish Government’s revenue allocation to Western Isles Council will be worth £3 million less than it is in today’s monetary terms.In 2013-14 it will be worth £5 million less , and the following year it will be worth £8 million less.
"Despite these cuts in value and despite overall rising prices, the Scottish Government are ordering councils such as Western Isles to maintain the level of vital services.
"This cannot be done while the Scottish Government refuses to fully fund its 5-year council tax freeze, demanding instead that councils slash their spending on services."
Matt Bruce, Chair of the Western Isles Constituency Labour Party said
," The reductions in annual figures seem worse for the Western Isles than for any other Local Authority.
"When you bear in mind how sparsely populated the Western Islands are, the high cost of fuel and low incomes, the economy of the Islands will be hit worse than the rest of the Highlands.".
The allocations for Western Isles Council are ( in £ millions rounded up )
2011-12 (current year) £112
2012-13 £ 110
2013-14 £ 109
2014-15 £ 108
The real terms value of these revenue allocations to Western Isles Council are :
| Year | Cash terms ( millions rounded up) | Real terms
-at 2011-12 prices (millions rounded up) |
| 2011-12 | £112 | £112 |
| 2012-13 | £110 | £107 |
| 2013-14 | £109 | £104 |
| 2014-15 | £108 | £100 |
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