City’s jobs boost

Sturgeon: ‘Excellent investment’ for Dundee

THE arrival of at least 750 new jobs in Dundee will go some way towards helping to lift people out of poverty, it was claimed today.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon visited Dundee to announce that the city will become home to headquarters for its new social security agency, which will administer 11 different types of benefits for people across Scotland.

A total of 1,500 jobs will be created between bases here and in Glasgow — split evenly across the two cities.

The news has been hailed as a huge boost for the city and its residents following several high-profile job losses in recent months.

David Martin, chief executive of Dundee City Council, thinks it could help meet some of the objectives of the Fairness Commission — which saw an action plan prepared last year aimed at pulling thousands of locals out of poverty. Among its key aims is improving job and training prospects for residents.

Mr Martin told the Tele: “This announcement could not have come at a better time for the city jobswise. It is excellent news in light of the work we are doing with poverty and deprivation and on the back of the work done by the Fairness Commission.”

Council leader John Alexander insists no base has been identified for the new agency, amid speculation that it could move into offices at Greenmarket, where some HMRC roles are expected to disappear in the next couple of years.

He said: “This is phase one of this