North Ayrshire (Economy)

– in the Scottish Parliament at on 27 May 2015.

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Photo of Kenneth Gibson Kenneth Gibson Scottish National Party

4. To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to boost the economy of North Ayrshire. (S4O-04367)

Photo of Fergus Ewing Fergus Ewing Scottish National Party

“Scotland’s Economic Strategy” reaffirms our commitment to increasing sustainable economic growth for all of Scotland, which is essential to achieving a more productive, cohesive and fairer country. Our continued investment in infrastructure, regeneration and business support is helping to boost North Ayrshire’s economy.

Photo of Kenneth Gibson Kenneth Gibson Scottish National Party

I thank the minister for that reply, although I would like to have heard more specifics. Will he tell members what impact Scottish Government actions to boost the North Ayrshire economy have had on employment and specifically on youth employment?

Photo of Fergus Ewing Fergus Ewing Scottish National Party

The work of private companies, supported by Scottish Enterprise, business gateway, the Scottish Government and local authorities, has had a salutary effect. I can inform the member that, just in the past year, the employment rate—the number of people in work—has increased by 10 per cent to 70 per cent.

Those are statistics, but a 10 per cent increase in the number of people in jobs in Kenneth Gibson’s part of Scotland shows that we are managing to achieve success. There is much more work to do, however, and we will work with Mr Gibson, who strongly advocates economic success for his part of Scotland.

The Deputy Presiding Officer:

Question 5, in the name of Joan McAlpine, has not been lodged, for understandable reasons.