Renfrewshire can’t be ‘left behind’ in wake of pandemic
Calls for new equalities review as area ‘hit hard’ by covid
Efforts to combat the growing unemployment figure in Renfrewshire should be ma-de with a commitment to tackle inequality, MSP Neil Bibby has said.
The Paisley- based politician has called on the Scottish Government to plough cash and resources into the area, arguing it has been disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus crisis.
The area’s 206 death toll ranks in the top five local authority areas hardest hit by the virus.
Its 7,545 unemployment figure is also among the highest in Scotland, with the jobless total skyrocketing by 88 per cent since the start of the pandemic.
The figures mean equality targets, created to bolster employment and well-being in deprived areas, should be reintroduced, Mr Bibby, MSP for West Scotland has said.
“Coronavirus has not affected all parts of Scotland the same,” he said.
“It has disproportionately hit the West of Scotland hardest.
“As I’ve said before, we need action from the Scottish Government to protect jobs in Renfrewshire.
“We cannot allow for the West to be left behind as we emerge from the worst of this pandemic.
“I’ve directly challenged the Economy Secretary to introduce new regional equality targets so the areas hardest hit by the covid health crisis and the areas with the highest levels of unemployment and redundancies get additional resources.
“The Cabinet Secretary said she would consider my suggestion.
“But Renfrewshire and West Scotland needs more than warm words if we are to get through this jobs crisis.”
Responding to Mr Bibby in the Scottish Parliament, Fiona Hyslop admitted some areas have been decimated by Covid-19 but said more time as needed to assess its impact across the country.
She said: “I will certainly consider his suggestion, but I am not necessarily committing to it at this stage.
“However, we need to find ways of becoming more regional in our support, whether that means the skills retraining being more focused on regional needs and being brave in moving from traditional sectors in those areas to new ones.”
Renfrewshire needs more than warm words if we are to get through this jobs crisis