Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government fully supports the principles of the living wage and we are leading from the front by paying staff whose wage packets we control a living wage. We encourage all employers within the public, private and third sectors in Scotland to do likewise, but it is not for the Scottish Government to set rates of pay in these areas.

The Scottish Government recognises that young people from disadvantaged backgrounds find it more difficult to secure and sustain employment. That is why this funding will initially be targeted towards care leavers and young carers aged between 16 and 24, and will be flexible to ensure that young people who are most in need receive this support.

The Scottish Government is convening a special session of the National Economic Forum on 1 February to explore with a wide range of partners and stakeholders how to maximise the effectiveness of this new resource. This builds on a strategic roundtable discussion with representatives of local authorities, the third sector, college sector and private sector employers on 15 December to consider this same issue. I am also planning to consult with a range of employers and other stakeholders ahead of the National Economic Forum. The £30 million announcement by the First Minister is in addition to a range of budgets applied to the issue.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-04751 on 18 January 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

It is for employers, not Government, to create permanent job opportunities. This Government will continue to work with employers from businesses of all sizes and across all sectors to encourage them to employ young people across all sections of our communities in line with current equal opportunities legislation.

To support young women entering the labour market, career information advice and guidance, provided by Skills Development Scotland, encourages them to challenge stereotypes and pre-conceived ideas about their career choice and to overcome barriers to progression in an appropriate and supportive fashion.

We will work with key partners to deliver Opportunities for All from next financial year to ensure an offer of a place in learning or training for every 16 to 19 year old who is not already in work, education or training. We will continue to target those who achieve few or no qualifications as we have been through 16+ Learning Choices.

The Scottish Government has committed to consult with a range of partners on the best use of the £30 million in additional funding to support youth employment. With that in mind, final decisions on the targeting of this resource have not been made.

The Scottish Government is already working closely with both public and private sector partners to provide a comprehensive package of services to help graduates into employment. Over the last two years, we have provided over £270,000 for new initiatives. This has improved web-based services which provide advice and information on job vacancies; it has supported the development of the Talent Scotland Graduate Placement Programme that aims to provide business placements for around 750 graduates in Scotland; and it has supported graduate placements under the successful “Adopt an Intern” Scheme run by the Centre for Scottish Public Policy.

The £30 million of additional funding is made up of £6 million per year for the next three years from consequential funding falling from the UK Government’s budget combined with £12 million from across the Scottish Government budget in financial year 2012-13.

It is for employers, not Government, to create permanent job opportunities. This Government will continue to work with employers from businesses of all sizes and across all sectors to encourage them to employ young people.

Through our investment in post-16 education we support young people to develop the skills they need to access and sustain jobs now and in the future.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-04748 on 18 January 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.