Joseph Rowntree report: Neglecting private sector means fewer jobs and more poverty for all
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has published research showing that Scotland's unemployment rate is rising and poverty is now hitting childless adults harder than pensioners or children.
Derek Brownlee MSP, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Finance & Sustainable Growth, said:
"These figures are further evidence of the urgent need for the Scottish Government to focus on job creation in the private sector, and to work with the UK Government to get the business climate right.
"For some years now we have seen the rate of new business start ups fall, and even in the good years growth was lower in Scotland than in the rest of the UK. If this continues, this depressing trend will continue. Neglecting the private sector means fewer jobs and more poverty for children and adults alike."
The research shows that (extract):
• Unemployment in Scotland has now surpassed that in England, having been markedly lower at the start of the recession.
• In terms of employment, the recession's impact was also bigger on men than women, with a shift from full- to part-time jobs.
• Scotland's child poverty rate rose by 2 per cent in the last year during the recession, compared with just 1 per cent in England.
Ruth: "Our thoughts should now be with the families of the victims who died on that fateful day in December 1988."
1.1 days ago
Ruth: "However, this should not stop the questions that still exist, including those regarding his release by the SNP Government."
1.1 days ago
Join us today online
Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter
Type in your email address below to sign up for our weekly e-newsletter
