HC Deb 12 November 2001 vol 374 c584W
John Barrett

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what action the Government are taking to help create new job opportunities in East Central Scotland. [9656]

Mr. Nicholas Brown

Since 1997, unemployment in the areas of Edinburgh, Fife, Lothian and Dundee has fallen by around a third, and long-term unemployment by around 60 per cent. Our aim is employment opportunity for all throughout the country. We have put in place a framework that deliversa platform of economic stability and low inflation, to promote sustained growth in output and jobs; investment in education and training so people have the skills they need to take up work; a labour market policy with a strong work focus so all jobless people have access to vacancies, advice and help with jobsearch: a range of New Deal programmes which help disadvantaged groups move from welfare into work; policies such as the National Minimum Wage and Working Families Tax Credit designed to make work pay; and locally focused initiatives designed to tackle the problems of particular areas, such as Action Teams for Jobs, one of which started operations in Dundee on 15 October.

These policies, alongside continued economic growth, have combined to ensure steady improvement in the labour market.