Youth unemployment

Recent figures show that the number of people in Airdrie and Shotts between the ages of 18 and 24 who have claimed Job Seekers Allowance for over 6 months has risen from 175 in January to 295 in October.  This is a 68% rise in youth unemployment. At a UK level, youth unemployment now stands [...]

Continue reading...

Britain’s Lost Talent

Just before recess, I attended a debate in the Parliament on the Finance Bill, during which Labour tabled an amendment calling for last year’s £3.5 billion bank bonus tax to be repeated this year.  Labour’s proposal would have been on top of the permanent bank levy and the funds raised would have been used to create [...]

Continue reading...

Job losses at St Philip’s

Earlier in the year I had the privilege of visiting St Phillip’s Secure Unit in Plains. I was impressed, not only by the state-of-the-art facilities and enthusiasm and dedication of the staff, but also by the outstanding effect that the school had on the young people attending. The school has a proven track record of [...]

Continue reading...