MP Welcomes Banff & Buchan Drop in Unemployment

Local MP Dr Eilidh Whiteford has welcomed newly published statistics which show Banff & Buchan’s local economy has helped to secure an increase in employment and reduction in unemployment.

Figures from the Office of National Statistics for March 2013 shows the number of unemployed persons in the constituency was down. The number of claimants is 297 lower than this time last year and 48 lower than in February 2013.

The statistics follow a Scotland-wide trend where employment rose by 39,000 or 1% in the first quarter of 2013, the largest increase since 2000, despite UK unemployment rising by 70 000 to 2.56 million during this period.

Commenting, Eilidh Whiteford MP said:

“These figures show Banff & Buchan has higher employment and lower unemployment than most other constituencies, ranking 103rd out of 650 UK constituencies for lowest unemployment.

“These stronger employment statistics in Scotland are no accident and are testament to the wide range of measures the SNP Scottish Government has put in place to create and secure jobs.

“Meanwhile recent figures also show that while the UK economy shrunk in the last quarter of 2012, the Scottish economy achieved growth of 0.5%.

“The progress that has been achieved in Banff & Buchan, despite a UK-wide downturn, shows what we can achieve with limited powers in Scotland. Only a Yes vote in next year’s referendum will give us the economic and fiscal powers we need to build a stronger Scotland.”