Rate at lowest level since before recession.

Article via gov.scot website

Scotland’s unemployment rate has fallen to match the lowest rate in 25 years.

It fell by 0.6 percentage points over the last quarter to 4.0%, equalling the figure for March to May 2008, and the lowest rate since the recession.

The unemployment level fell by 17,000 over the quarter to 109,000, and decreased by 49,000 over the year.

The Labour Market Stats for Feb-Apr 2017, published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), show Scotland’s unemployment rate continues to be the lowest out of the four UK nations, and lower than the UK rate of 4.6%.

The figures also show:

• Scotland’s employment rate increased by 0.3 percentage points over the quarter to 74.1% – the second highest employment rate out of the four UK nations – with the employment level rising by 14,000.
• Over the year, Scotland’s employment rate increased by 0.9 percentage points, with the employment level rising by 44,000.
• Scotland continued to outperform the UK on female employment rates (70.6% vs. 70.2%), and Scotland’s female unemployment rate was also lower than the UK’s (4.1% vs. 4.4%).
• Scotland’s youth employment rate also outperformed the UK (57.1% vs. 54.1%), while Scotland’s youth unemployment rate was also lower than the UK’s (8.8% vs. 11.5%).

Minister for Employability and Training Jamie Hepburn said:

“Scotland’s unemployment rate is at its lowest rate since the recession and matches the lowest on record for Scotland since the series began. With the employment rate rising, it’s clear this is hugely positive news for our economy and the jobs market.

“Once again, despite adverse prevailing economic conditions, Scotland’s job market continues to be resilient and robust, with female and youth unemployment rates lower than the UK average.

“The Scottish Government will continue to support growth and jobs in Scotland through our £500 million Scottish Growth Scheme and our £6 billion infrastructure plan.

“Whilst this is good news, we must be clear that the biggest threat to Scotland’s labour market continues to be a hard Brexit – something which the Scottish Government believes there is now no clear mandate for. The UK Government must now seek a broad consensus which would see us retain our place in the single market and in the customs union.”

Article Source: https://news.gov.scot/news/unemployment-rate-matches-lowest-on-record

Major long-term commitment to grow number of homes.

Article via gov.scot website

More than £1.75 billion is being allocated to councils in a major Scottish Government commitment to stimulate investment in affordable housing.

It comes as figures published today show the highest levels of activity in the affordable house-building sector in Scotland since the early 1980s.

For the first time, details have been confirmed of each local authority’s full funding allocation for affordable housing over the next three years.

The move is designed to help local authorities and house-builders plan their investment and provide certainty on the amount of funding available until 2021.

In 2018-19, £532 million will be shared amongst local authorities – rising to £591 million in 2019-20 and £630 million in 2020-21.

Announcing the funding, Housing Minister Kevin Stewart said this would support the government’s ambitious commitment of delivering 50,000 affordable homes by 2021.

He said: “We are ensuring Scotland has homes that are high-quality, efficient and affordable.

“Today, we are announcing to local authorities how much money they’ll have to invest in affordable housing until the end of this Parliament. It means they can plan these new affordable homes now – with the certainty that the funding will increase year-on-year.

“This is also an important signal to the house-building sector in Scotland and demonstrates our commitment to the industry and the estimated 14,000 jobs our affordable housing supply programme supports each year.”

New statistics also show a level of activity in the affordable house-building sector not seen since the early 1980s, with 10,276 affordable homes approved in 2016/17 – a 29% increase on the year before. 7,000 of these were for social rent new house building.

In the same year, 9,308 affordable homes were started (an increase of 21% on 2015/16) and 7,336 were completed – up by 13%.

Mr Stewart added: “Increasing the supply of affordable homes is a key commitment – and vital to our ambition of tackling poverty and inequality in our society.

“Much has been achieved in our first year of our new affordable housing programme and these figures are evidence that Government investment is stimulating house-building in the affordable sector.

“With a huge number of affordable homes approved last year, we can be confident that our programme is on course to deliver for Scotland.

“Today’s announcement will provide the certainty that local authorities and the sector need to accelerate this progress and ensure we keep up this momentum to reach our goal of 50,000 new affordable homes by 2021.”

Article Source: https://news.gov.scot/news/gbp-1-75-billion-boost-for-investment-in-affordable-housing

Hawick projects to create around 55 jobs

Article via gov.scot website

A business incubator centre in Hawick will help Borders businesses establish themselves and grow, thanks to a £3.6 million funding package.

The funding will also:
•develop four industrial units at the edge of the town
•upgrade existing business facilities in Hawick’s Tower Mill
•secure commitment by Scottish Borders Council to fund and undertake feasibility studies for regeneration of two further redundant mill buildings to inform potential investors

The Scottish Government is working with Scottish Borders Council, local businesses and community groups to further develop the local economy, building upon the Hawick Action Plan.

The support is part of a £10m local economic development capital grant fund, which is also supporting businesses in North Ayrshire, Clackmannanshire and Fife.

Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy Paul Wheelhouse said:

“Supporting economic growth in the South of Scotland is a priority for this government, creating and protecting jobs and enabling local businesses to flourish.

“The business incubator in the former Armstrong’s building will give new and rapidly-developing companies the opportunity to come together and grow. The new and upgraded business infrastructure in and around Hawick will encourage entrepreneurs, generate start-ups and ensure that the region can meet all the business needs that expanding companies may have.

“This will boost the economy in the South of Scotland, creating up to 55 jobs, and will let local businesses build upon the reputation for innovation and hard work for which they are renowned.”

Councillor Mark Rowley, SBC’s Executive Member for Business and Economic Development, said:

“These projects will not only provide new job opportunities in Hawick but will hopefully act as a catalyst for further property redevelopment and inward investment in the town in the future.

“Redeveloping the former Armstrong’s building will deliver new, small office units suitable for start-up firms and existing businesses in the town centre and will also bring life back to a building which has been empty and derelict for many years.”

Article Source: https://news.gov.scot/news/gbp-3-6m-boost-for-borders-economy

Final #GE2017 result in Scotland

SNP 35
Conservatives 13
Labour 7
Lib Dems 4

#ge17 pic.twitter.com/eeTaThDjl2 https://t.co/KVmJ6Qz58Q

— ScottishPoliticsNews (@ScoPoliticsNews) June 9, 2017

Report finds Scotland has ‘unique system for improving patient care’.

(Article from www.gov.scot)

Scotland’s NHS has lessons for the rest of the UK, according to a new report by the Nuffield Trust.

The research, entitled ‘Learning from Scotland’s NHS’ is part of the health think-tank’s ongoing work looking at health and care across all four devolved nations of the UK.

It highlights the way NHS Scotland seeks to improve the quality and safety of care given to patients, and the fact that it trusts and equips clinical staff to drive that improvement.

The report also emphasises Scotland’s progress in integrating health and social care, as well as its “pioneering” work in providing healthcare to remote areas and tackling health inequalities.

Health Secretary Shona Robison said:

“I’m proud that the achievements of NHS Scotland’s staff are being recognised in this report. Our world-leading Patient Safety Programme has led to 20,000 fewer than expected deaths, the lowest recorded levels of healthcare associated infections and significant improvement in sepsis and surgical mortality.

“We are also delivering the integration of health and social care, which is one of the most significant reforms since the establishment of the NHS, and which is helping improve service delivery. By bringing these services together we are ensuring people get the right care and support for their individual needs, and that staff across health and social care are equipped to work together to make full use of their shared skills and resources.

“Our ambitions for the NHS are founded on the twin approach of investment and reform, making the changes needed for future backed by record levels of investment and staffing.”

The Scottish Government’s National Clinical Director, Professor Jason Leitch said:

“This report highlights the efforts of many thousands of dedicated staff who over a number of years have ensured that the healthcare system in Scotland is one of the best in the world.

“It is very encouraging to see the NHS in Scotland commended for the ‘continuity and consistency’ of the leadership and Scotland’s ‘emphasis on building up a cohort of staff equipped with skills for change’.

“The Health Secretary has been clear that there is no room for complacency and we are working to build on these successes and continue to improve the quality and safety of care provided to the people of Scotland, ensuring that wherever improvements are needed they are introduced and maintained.”

Article Source: https://news.gov.scot/news/scotlands-nhs-leads-by-example