Labour targets youth unemployment in election manifesto

Published on Wednesday 6 April 2011 14:42

SCOTTISH Labour pledged to end youth unemployment by the end of this decade as they became the third main party to launch their manifesto for the Holyrood election today.

The party aims to get young people back into work by offering a modern apprenticeship to every suitably qualified 16-18 year old who wants one from 2013.

Leader Iain Gray, speaking at the manifesto launch at Clydebank College today, said that his party would also create 250,000 jobs by the end of the decade, including up to 60,000 posts in the renewables sector by 2015.

In addition, Labour are committed to introducing a new Scottish Living Wage of at least 7.15 an hour, starting with those working in the public sector.

Mr Gray said: "That is a bold objective which will demand determination and the will to deliver it. But it is not enough.

"By the end of this decade, Labour will create 250,000 jobs through apprenticeships, the Future Jobs Fund, help for small businesses, green jobs and investing in our infrastructure."

But Mr Gray also reiterated his plans for a radical overhaul of the public sector, including a single police force for Scotland and a cut in the number of health boards.

He pledged to keep higher education free in Scotland, and announced plans for specialised literacy training and new jobs for school teachers.

The manifesto also contains a promise to freeze council tax for two years, after which local councils would have to make a case for any future rises.

Mr Gray reiterated plans to lock up for six months anyone caught carrying a knife, as well as a proposed National Care Service taking on elderly care responsibilities from councils.

Mr Gray described the manifesto - titled "Fighting for What Really Matters" - as "a serious document for serious times".

This morning's launch was interrupted when a fire alarm sounded and everyone had to be evacuated from the college. Strathclyde firefighters found that it was a false alarm and the event continued after a break of 20 minutes.

The Scottish Conservatives launched their manifesto on Monday, followed by the Liberal Democrats yesterday. The SNP is expected to reveal its election pledges next week.

Key points of the Labour manifesto:

Economy

• 10,000 work placements for unemployed young people.

• A new Scottish Living Wage of at least 7.15 an hour

• A guaranteed modern apprenticeship for every suitably qualified young person who wants one.

• A doubling in the value of exports over the next decade.

• Robust efficiency savings, including scrapping the Council of Economic Advisors and the Scottish Futures Trust.

Education

• New jobs and specialised training for up to 1000 teachers.

• Consultation on an Early Years Bill, to deliver a common package of support measures prior to birth and until the age of three.

• No tuition fees for Scottish students.

Health

• Prioritise the protection of NHS jobs, with no compulsory

redundancies for NHS staff.

• Deliver a National Care Service within the lifetime of the next parliament.

• Support the NHS by delivering bold efficiency measures.

Justice

• Protect frontline police jobs and police numbers

• New mandatory minimum jail sentences for those carrying knives.

• Put victims first, through the creation of a Victims' Commissioner, a Victims' Fund and a new charter of Victims' Rights.

• Repeal plans to scrap the use of short prison sentences.

• Create a single police force and a single fire service for Scotland.

Communities

• Support employment opportunities for individuals who are the most removed from or disadvantaged in the labour market.

• Help first time buyers to get onto the property ladder with a new First Foot scheme.

• Champion volunteering, beginning by restarting ProjectScotland

• Freeze council tax for the next two years.

Environment

• Create up to 60,000 green jobs by 2015.

• Create a new Commission for Rural Scotland.

• Ensure Scotland's forests remain in public ownership.

• Create 300 new jobs, 750 traineeships, and generate new revenue for local communities through Scottish Labour's Green New Deal.

Arts

• New jobs in the cultural sector by investing in the creative industries, with a Scottish Film Champion.

• Scotland's first joined-up music policy, ensuring that music is central to the school curriculum.

• Modernise library services to expand the provision of superfast broadband and e-book lending.

• Promote widest possible access to the arts, by working to protect free admission to galleries and museums.

• Protect international development budget and deliver support for development education.

• Read the Labour manifesto in full (PDF)

• Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats Tavish Scott will be taking part in a live webchat on scotsman.com on Monday, April 11 at 12pm.

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