TORIES SHORT-CHANGING SCOTLAND ON YOUTH JOBS

New figures show that of the 250,000 jobs Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak MP promised would be created by the UK Kickstart scheme, only 1.5% are in Scotland.

Kickstart pays employers to train 16–24 year-olds "at risk of long-term unemployment."

Based on population share, Scotland should have 8.2%, around 20,500, of the 250,000 Kickstart jobs promised. However, only 10,740 have been made available to Scotland and 3,830 started.

Patricia Gibson MP said:

“These figures are an embarrassment for Rishi Sunak and they show, once again, how Westminster is failing Scotland.

“The Tories may boast about a so-called “union of equals” – but that is exposed as hollow bluster by these figures showing that Scotland has just 1.5% of the total Kickstart jobs promised by the Chancellor.

“In Scotland only 3,830 jobs have been supported. Given young people are disproportionately employed in the sectors most affected by the pandemic, it is shocking that ten months into the scheme the UK Government is nowhere near to delivering the jobs promised.

“It shows too that even as the Tories try to trample on devolved responsibilities, Westminster is simply incapable of delivering for Scotland.

“While the UK government drags its feet on tackling youth unemployment, the SNP Government is delivering the Young Person's Guarantee and ensuring that every young person between 16 and 24 has the opportunity to go to university or college, secure an apprenticeship, job, training or work experience programme or participate in formal volunteering.

“Westminster isn't working for Scotland or its young people, who deserve better than this. Only with full welfare and employment powers through independence can we deliver a strong and equal recovery for Scotland, and more opportunities for our young people.”