The funding comes from a £87.85 million investment – bringing together cash from the Scottish Government, local councils, Cosla, the European Commission and employers – is expected to support 10,000 young people into work across Scotland. An additional 3,000 jobs are expected to be created in small business around the country for workers of all ages.

The announcement comes on the day that labour market figures show unemployment in Scotland fell for the seventh consecutive month to 7.1% – while the UK figure remained static at 7.8%. The statistics show the headline employment level rose by 47,000 between February and April – an increase of just over one per cent to 72.2%, compared to the UK which fell by 0.1% to 71.5%.

Youth unemployment fell by 6.1 percentage points over the year to February to April 2013, meaning Scotland now has one of the lowest youth joblessness rates from across the EU.

Commenting, Dundee City West MSP said: ”This £88 million investment in jobs for young people is fantastic news and Dundee’s available funding is £772,512 which will support 240 jobs and confirms the SNP’s commitment to give every young person in Scotland the opportunity to work and make their contribution to society.”

Shona Robison, Dundee City East MSP said; “It’s also great to see how small and medium sized businesses will benefit in their ability to recruit young people and build capacity for economic growth.

“The huge emphasis that the SNP Government has placed on tackling unemployment – particularly youth unemployment – is paying off with another set of encouraging figures.

“But it is vital that we keep up this momentum and the significant announcement today will ensure that employers have the right help in place to take on more young staff and grow their business.”

Speaking at an Economic and Social Research Council seminar in Westminster on the future of the UK and Scotland, the Deputy Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), Carl Emmerson, said opportunities would arise for an independent Scotland from the fact UK tax systems have much to be improved upon, and there are opportunities from higher spending such as defence spending being higher than most other small countries.

He also said that in recent years, a geographic share of North Sea oil revenues would have been enough to finance the higher public spending per head in Scotland.

The comments follow a recent IFS report which made the case that Scotland is in a stronger financial position than the UK as a whole, and as an independent country would have lower debt levels than the rest of the UK.
A recent poll shows the majority of Scots want the Scottish Parliament to control taxes, rather than Westminster.

Commenting, Scottish National Party MP and Treasury Select Committee member Stewart Hosie MP said: “These comments are very welcome, and reflect what was said in the IFS report – which confirmed what the SNP has been saying for years – that Scotland is in a stronger financial position than the rest of the UK.

“It is no secret that the Scottish Government and the majority of people in Scotland take a different view from the UK Government on the steps necessary to deliver economic recovery. Indeed, the majority of people in Scotland want control of taxes to be with the Scotland over London because they know we could do it better.
“John Swinney, Cabinet Secretary for Finance, has outlined plans to establish Revenue Scotland and put in place a framework for the administration of devolved taxes in Scotland and the Scottish Parliament will shortly pass its first tax bill, reforming the outdated and unfair system of Stamp Duty with a fairer system that more closely reflects ability to pay.
“Looking at the experience of the Scottish Government having some devolved control over our economy we can see what can be done if we exercise control and develop approaches that are in tune with the needs and aspirations of the people of Scotland. With the powers we have, we have the most competitive business rates regime, and have frozen the council tax to help hard pressed households.
“The UK Government’s attempts at economic recovery are hitting the most disadvantaged people in our society. Independence would mean no longer seeing tax cuts for millionaires at the same time as welfare cuts –such as the Bedroom Tax- for the poor, against the wishes of Scottish MPs.”

The announcement was made in the latest round of funding awards totalling nearly £3.5m to eight projects across Scotland.

The Play on Wheels Dundee Project bus links up with nursery groups, schools, parent and child groups and community centres across Dundee will help vulnerable children and families by developing their confidence and resilience and strengthening relationships through play.

Stewart Hosie said: “This is a big award from the Big Lottery Fund and will allow the established Dundee play-bus project to undertake more activities and visits across the city.

“The value of play in the early years of a child’s life cannot be understated. It is a crucial part of development.

“For families facing specific challenges it is not always easy to access play activities and resources.

“Through the workshops and free play sessions of the Play on Wheels project, children will develop their confidence and their social skills and help to build better relationships with their families and communities.”

L-R: Joe FitzPatrick MSP, Shona Robison MSP, Cllr Ken Guild, Cllr Stewart Hunter, Cllr Gregor Murray, Mrs Kim Flynn, Lina Waghorn, Kenny Christie.

Dundee’s constituency MSPs Joe FitzPatrick and Shona Robison have expressed their support for proposals by Dundee City Council to scrap school music tuition fees and to improve educational attainment in the city through investment in a new arts education programme ASPIRE.

The proposals are to go before the Council’s Education Committee on 24^th and will take effect from the new term in August.

Commenting on the proposals, Shona Robison, Dundee City East MSP said: “I’m pleased to learn of Dundee City Council’s new Education initiatives.

“Scrapping music tuition fees will help boost even further the number of primary and secondary pupils in Dundee benefitting from learning an instrument.

“Apart from the acquisition of musical skills, learning to play an instrument gives the pupil confidence and satisfaction and allows them to attain goals and to express themselves creatively.

“It is very important and I commend Dundee City Council’s initiative and hope that it will receive all-party support at the Eduation Committee.”

Joe FitzPatrick, MSP for Dundee City West said: “ASPIRE, which is partly funded by the Scottish Government and Creative Scotland, will benefit nearly 2000 primary pupils in the city and improve their attainment and confidence.

“Through the use of this arts education programme we can inspire the next generation and create long-term social transformation in deprived areas of the city.

“The Council is taking bold and imaginative steps to dramatically increase the education records of achievement in Dundee schools, and I very much support these new initiatives.”

Joe FitzPatrick, MSP for Dundee City West, today welcomed confirmation that Scottish Enterprise’s most senior official is meeting with NCR’s corporate management in the United States.

In May this year, it was revealed that up to 70 jobs could be under threat at the technology firm’s research and development centre in Dundee.

At a meeting in May with local management, Joe FitzPatrick was advised that the potential job losses are part of an international re-alignment that will impact on NCR sites across the world and that it was not a reflection of the skills and experience of the workforce.

In a letter to the MSP, senior executive Adrian Gillespie confirmed that Scottish Enterprise’s Chief Executive, Dr Lena Wilson, is meeting with NCR management in the United States.

Mr Gillespie stated that the purpose of this meeting is, “to understand further the rationale behind this announcement and more importantly to explore how Scottish Enterprise can help to maximise ongoing long term investment in the Dundee operation with key US decision makers.”

Joe FitzPatrick said,

“Following my recent meeting with NCR’s local management last month, I raised this issue at the highest level with the Scottish Government’s enterprise agency and also directly with the Finance Secretary, John Swinney.

“I am reassured that the Scottish Government’s most senior official from Scottish Enterprise is meeting with NCR in the United States in an effort to secure jobs and continued investment at the Dundee site.

“This will be a difficult time for the employees and their families, though I remain hopeful that NCR will endeavour to avoid redundancies and I welcome the knowledge that action is being taken by the Scottish Government’s agency to assist them in doing so.”

S2 pupils of Craigie High School who were members of the Giant Heptathalon team with, Back Row L-R: Nicola Barker, Active Schools’ Co-ordinator, Alasdhair Love, Scottish Athletics, Scott Madden, Active Schools’ Co-ordinator. Front, L-R: Nigel Holl, Chief Executive, Scottish Athletics, Eilish McColgan, Shona Robison MSP, Minister for Sport and Commonwealth Games.

Dundee City East MSP Shona Robison, Minister for Sport & Commonwealth Games, today sat-in on the first International Athlete School visit of the Inspire 2014 programme.

The Minister joined officials from Scottish Athletics at Craigie High School to sit-in on an inspiration talk and Q&A with athlete Eilish McColgan to S2 pupils who had participated in the Giant Heptathalon event.

Subjects covered in the talk included training issues, dealing with success and failure, the life of an athlete and how important good diet is in developing physically and mentally.

Shona said: “This was an inspirational talk and went down very well with the pupils. Some of the questions related to celebrity athletes that Eilish has met but many more were good questions about how to make a career in athletics and how to sustain and improve performances over the long term.

“I was particularly pleased that Eilish is looking forward to the Commonwealth Games and stressed how good it would be to be in front of a home crowd, all of whom will be aware of who she is and will be cheering her on.

‘In partnership with scottishathletics, the Scottish Government has created a new programme for schools to help pupils take part in athletics. Inspire 2014 will complement the work of athletics clubs to ensure a smooth move from school into club athletics.

‘Inspire 2014 will help create a new generation of hopefuls keen to emulate Eilish and make their dreams come true.’

“Young and successful athletes like Eilish can make a huge difference in inspiring and motivating young people to get more active and participate in sport.”

The local MSP spoke to a P5/6 class who have been learning about the Scottish
Parliament and the Independence Referendum.

Joe also heard that the pupils were settling into their new school – which is on a shared facility with Victoria Park PS – and that they are enjoying the new environment and benefitting from the improved facilities, which include a separate gym facility that is enabling them to have two PE sessions a week.

This is the final report on statistics of the eight forces configuration as the next statistical report will address staffing numbers of the new single force, Police Scotland.

Dundee City West MSP Joe FitzPatrick said: “I welcome the new statistics showing that the Scottish Government has kept its commitment to deliver increased police numbers and drive down crime.

“There is no substitute for bobbies on the beat and that is what we have delivered, with police numbers in Tayside at their highest-level since 2007.

“The SNP has delivered safer communities, and crime is at a 40 year-low thanks to these extra police officers patrolling our streets.”

Shona Robison, MSP for Dundee City East said: “The new Police Officer Quarterly Strength Statistics Scotland figures show that across Scotland, the SNP has delivered 1,261 additional police officers, a national increase of 7.8%.
“Not a single one of those additional police officers would be there, protecting our communities, if Labour had their way.  And all the opposition parties voted against the Scottish Government Budget which is delivering the resources to maintain these police numbers.”

Mr Hosie said: “Parents of children with learning disabilities do an extraordinary job which becomes ever more challenging as their children reach adulthood.

“So I am delighted to be able to welcome the establishment of a new carers group in South Angus – SAPALD.

“I’m also pleased to have joined their campaign to ensure that there are good quality services in place to help the families and the adult children and I have today written to the Chief Executive of Angus Council and Tayside Health Board to find out what their long term plans are to help provide the facilities the families need.

“I have made the point in my letter that the help needed ranges from respite, through day care, to long term residential care. It is important that we all recognise one sort of service might not suit everybody.

“I look forward to working with this new group to help them campaign for the facilities their adult children need.”

Shona on an earlier Sport Ministerial visit

Speaking to an audience of Sport Governing Bodies at a sportscotland equality seminar in Glasgow today, Sport  & Commonwealth Games Minister Shona Robison, who is also responsible for equalities said:

“There should be no barriers at all to participating in sport and the Commonwealth Games provides a fantastic opportunity to promote equality. Yet the Equality Network’s Out for Sport report – the biggest research to date on homophobia and transphobia in Scottish sport – highlighted problems in attitudes that still exist.

“We take homophobia very seriously so I welcome the Out for Sport recommendation to develop an action plan to tackle prejudice, put in place diversity strategies and to monitor progress.

“This issue needs leadership and Sport Governing Bodies should have clear policies in place for LGBT people, and sportscotland will have a role to ensure that consideration of LGBT people is mainstreamed into sport development plans. An LGBT sports charter will also be created, which Governing Bodies can support and promote to their members, to help spread the inclusion message.”

Stewart Harris, Chief Executive of sportscotland, said:

“This seminar is an excellent opportunity to celebrate the achievements which have been made over the past year by many of the Scottish Governing Bodies of Sport (SGBs) in progressing their work with equalities.

“Significant improvements have been made by SGBs in developing initiatives, plans, and policy frameworks to help them increase the diversity of their membership and organisations.

“In addition, sportscotland is undertaking a range of equalities work to ensure that the opportunities to participate, progress, and achieve in sport are available to all, and by providing the LGBT sector with the opportunity to engage directly with SGBs will undoubtedly lead to further progress.”

Scott Cuthbertson, Community Development Coordinator for the Equality Network, said;

“The Out for Sport report reveals for the first time the extent of homophobia and transphobia experienced in Scottish sport. We welcome the strong commitment from the Scottish Government and sportscotland to tackling this issue, ensuring LGBT people can play a full and active role in the sporting life of Scotland.”