Unemployment in the Highlands and Islands has risen by almost 1,000 since last November
16 February 2012
The numbers claiming Job Seekers Allowance across the council areas of Highland, Moray, Argyll and Bute, Western Isles , Orkney and Shetland has increased by 989 between November 2011 and January of this year.
Commenting on the figures, Rhoda Grant MSP said,
"The Highlands and Islands over-riding priorities in recent months have remained the need for solid, sustained investment in jobs
"The SNP Government’s priorities have been Alex Salmond’s non-appearance on TV as a rugby pundit and further talks about the process of the referendum but nothing about what they mean by separation.
" The Scottish Government must reverse its priorities and policies to put the Highlands and Islands on the path of economic growth and recovery"
The figures for each council area
Highland
Number unemployed in November 2011 - 3,889 ; January 2012 - 4,351 increase 462
Orkney
Number unemployed in November 2011 - 248 ; January 2012 - 264 increase 16
Shetland
Number unemployed in November 2011 - 191 ; January 2012 - 221 increase 30
Western Isles
Number unemployed in November 2011 - 518 ; January 2012 - 554 increase 36
Argyll and Bute
Number unemployed in November 2011 - 1,909 ; January 2012 - 2,105 increase 196
Moray
Number unemployed in November 2011 - 1,343 ; January 2012 - 1,592 increase 249
Total increase 989
Highland Council faces significant reductions from standstill budget
16 January 2012
The standstill allocation of money by the Scottish Government for council services in the Highlands mean " significant reductions in real terms for Highlands Council to spend on its services for the public " over the next three years, according to Highlands
and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant.Commenting today, she said
,"When these allocations are looked at again, taking into account the effect of price rises , a different picture emerges from the so-called ‘same level of funding’ claim.
"Next year, the Scottish Government’s revenue allocation to Highland Council will be worth £13 million less than it is in today’s monetary terms."
She continued
,"In 2013-14 it will be worth £24 million less , and the following year it will be worth £36 million less.
"Despite these cuts the Scottish Government are ordering councils such as Highland to maintain the level of vital services.
"This cannot be done while the Scottish Government refuses to fully fund its 5-year council tax freeze, demanding instead that councils slash their spending on services."
Former MSP and Black Isle resident, Maureen Macmillan said, " Voluntary organisations which support some of the most vulnerable people in the Highlands, through service level agreements with Highland Council, are having great difficulty making ends meet.
"Funding was frozen at last year's levels, and will remain so for the next 3 years, whilst at the same time costs are increasing.
"It doesn't take a genius to work out the consequences."
The allocations for Highland Council are ( in £ millions )
2011-12 (current year) £490.34
2012-13 £490.07
2013-14 £490.90
2014-15 £491.08
The real terms value of these revenue allocations to Highland Council are :
| Year | Cash terms ( millions rounded up) |
Real terms -at 2011-12
prices (millions rounded up) |
| 2011-12 | £490 | £490 |
| 2012-13 | £490 | £477 |
| 2013-14 | £491 | £467 |
| 2014-15 | £491 | £455 |
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