Scotland’s economy; Copying work experience scheme is ‘la-la land’

YOUTH employment minister Angela Constance has dismissed suggestions that the Scottish Government could set up its own paid version of the controversial UK-wide work experience scheme.

Ms Constance said it would “not be realistic” to think the SNP administration could duplicate the UK government’s Get Britain Working programme.

Appearing before Holyrood’s economy committee yesterday to answer questions on the Scottish Government’s plans to tackle youth unemployment, Ms Constance was asked about the prospect of a paid version of the programme north of the Border. She said: “I think it is not realistic and I think I would be accused of living in la-la land if I thought I could realistically duplicate what the UK government currently has the responsibility and the finances for. I would be genuinely concerned about going down a road where we, for whatever reason, try and duplicate.”