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Salmond announces youth jobs minister portfolio | Salmond announces youth jobs minister portfolio |
(40 minutes later) | |
A dedicated minister for youth employment will be appointed by the Scottish government, the first minister has told MSPs. | A dedicated minister for youth employment will be appointed by the Scottish government, the first minister has told MSPs. |
Alex Salmond announced the move after Labour claimed Scotland was in the midst of a "national crisis", with 100,000 16 to 24-year-olds out of work. | Alex Salmond announced the move after Labour claimed Scotland was in the midst of a "national crisis", with 100,000 16 to 24-year-olds out of work. |
Leading figures from the business community had recently called for such a role. | Leading figures from the business community had recently called for such a role. |
The Smith Group produced a report saying the young should not be ignored. | The Smith Group produced a report saying the young should not be ignored. |
It stated: "We recommend that the issue is of such significance that it should be tackled through a dedicated ministerial portfolio, rather than an 'add-on' to a wider brief. | It stated: "We recommend that the issue is of such significance that it should be tackled through a dedicated ministerial portfolio, rather than an 'add-on' to a wider brief. |
"This would provide the appropriate level of accountability for a national priority." | "This would provide the appropriate level of accountability for a national priority." |
Mr Salmond told Holyrood that he would put the proposal before his cabinet, meeting next Tuesday. | Mr Salmond told Holyrood that he would put the proposal before his cabinet, meeting next Tuesday. |
He added: "That [proposal] will be brought to this chamber as quickly as possible, probably next Wednesday." | He added: "That [proposal] will be brought to this chamber as quickly as possible, probably next Wednesday." |
The new minister would have £30m to spend tackling the problem, with the money being brought together from other government departments. | The new minister would have £30m to spend tackling the problem, with the money being brought together from other government departments. |
Plan welcomed | |
Mr Salmond said the youth employment minister would then work with local councils, the voluntary sector, the private sector and others "in bringing forward the substantial proposals that must be made". | Mr Salmond said the youth employment minister would then work with local councils, the voluntary sector, the private sector and others "in bringing forward the substantial proposals that must be made". |
Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray welcomed the announcement of the new minister, saying: "Alex Salmond seems finally to get the point the SNP government have not done enough to tackle youth unemployment. I welcome the fact he will now follow Labour's call for a minister for youth jobs. | |
During the debate the Labour MSP said the 100,000 16 to 24-year-olds out of work was the "highest figure ever recorded" for this age group. | |
Mr Gray added: "This is a national crisis - a crisis for Scotland - because of the profound threat it poses to the future prosperity, future equality and future fairness of our society." | |
As well as calling for a new minister to be appointed to tackle the issue, Labour suggested that a scheme in the voluntary sector should be expanded. | |
The Community Jobs Scotland initiative is a partnership between the Scottish government, Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations and Social Enterprise Scotland, which aims to create 2,000 work opportunities for unemployed individuals. |
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