High-level talks over unemployment issues

A summit featuring ministers from the UK and Scottish governments is being held in Dundee to try to tackle its unemployment problems.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney and Lord Dunlop, the parliamentary under secretary at the Scotland Office, will converge on the city today.

The talks – organised and hosted by The Courier – also involve the city council, businesses and universities with the aim of getting people back into work.

The number of people claiming out-of-work benefits in Dundee is the fourth highest of Scotland’s 32 local authority areas.

Lord Dunlop said: “This is an excellent initiative and one which I am delighted to be a part of.

“Dundee is a city with huge potential and promise, but unemployment is a significant issue which needs to be tackled. The best way of doing that is if Scotland’s two governments work with the local authorities, businesses, entrepreneurs and other organisations with the city’s best interests at heart.

“We all have levers we can pull to help address this problem, but no one has all the answers.

“What this summit shows is that there is a willingness to come together for the good of Dundee and its people and I am eager to play my part.”

Lord Andrew Dunlop.