DONOHOE: "MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO SAFEGUARD JOBS"
Published 22 Feb 2012 09:30
IRVINE MP Brian Donohoe has received the unemployment figures for January 2012 which showed a rise of 164 more people claiming Jobseekers Allowance compared to December in his constituency.
Brian Donohoe said: "According to official figures, unemployment in Scotland rose by 16,000 to 231,000 in the three months to December.
"Data from the Office of National Statistics also showed the Scottish claimant count fell by 200 to 141,200 in January although this is still 1,500 up on the same month last year."
In total the number of unemployed claimants for December in Central Ayrshire was 2,831, with 164 more people claiming benefits than in December 2011.
The MP continued: "The whole of Ayrshire is suffering with a rise in benefit claimants in every Ayrshire constituency and it is very worrying. More has to be done by the UK Coalition Government and the NATS in the Scottish Parliament to focus on supporting and growing our economy back to health.
" This complacency cannot continue and although there may be a slight rise in those in employment in Scotland this is mainly because people are taking part time work as there are no full time jobs available."
Mr Donohoe added: "I continue to make representations at the highest levels to have this jobs crisis tackled, we must see more done to secure new investment and safeguard jobs. These figures are becoming more and more worrying and I believe the uncertainties of the referendum will not help."
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