MP Mhairi: Take note of our scheme

Paisley MP Mhairi Black has called on the UK government to take note of the Scottish Government’s record on youth employment, while speaking in a debate in Westminster Hall.

She told MPs that research indicates that Scotland has lower figures of young people aged between 16 to 24 unemployed when compared to the rest of the UK, and is one of the lowest in Europe.

Miss Black, who is the SNP’s Youth Spokesman, said the Invest in Renfrewshire Scheme undertaken by Renfrewshire Council has seen youth unemployment fall by 80 per cent.

The scheme has seen nearly 850 local employers to support young unemployed people and stimulate the creation of jobs, taking Renfrewshire from the sixth worst local authority area in Scotland to now being in the top five council areas with youth employment growing, she said.

Miss Black said:“I welcome figures that show our youth unemployment is falling.

“We must be careful that the jobs our young workforce are carrying out will not be temporary.

“High quality jobs are a key concern for people ages 16 to 24.

“Young people leaving university are faced with huge debts, taking an insecure or unskilled job, have to deal with wage stagnation, the uncertainty of Brexit and an impossible to reach housing ladder.

“The UK government need a new approach to this issue and they should consider following the leads of Renfrewshire Council or the Scottish Government.”