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

Number unemployed in November 2011 - 248 ; January 2012 - 264 increase 16

Number unemployed in November 2011 - 191 ; January 2012 - 221 increase 30

Number unemployed in November 2011 - 518 ; January 2012 - 554 increase 36

Number unemployed in November 2011 - 1,909 ; January 2012 - 2,105 increase 196

Number unemployed in November 2011 - 1,343 ; January 2012 - 1,592 increase 249

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 Rhoda Grant MSP.

Speaking 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.

"In 2013-14 it will be worth £24 million less , and the following year it will be worth £36 million less."

"Mrs. Grant continued, "Despite these cuts in value and despite overall rising prices, 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."

Secretary of Caithness, Sutherland and Ross Constituency Labour Party, Simon Harrison said,

"There have been calls in the north (Cllr Willie Mackay) for a return to council tax increases against a background of increasingly painful cuts that Highland council has had to make.

The SNP Government has imposed a council tax freeze that councils are powerless to resist, since they would be financially penalised if they did so. Its a zero sum deal and we have yet to hear what the SNP would put in place of council tax.

By not supplying the funds, whilst pretending it''s business as usual, the SNP are passing the blame for the cuts onto councils.

"Highland council taxpayers should be under no illusion as to who is to blame for the cuts.

The allocations for Highland Council are ( in £ millions )