| Mid Scotland and Fife parliamentarian Murdo Fraser today called on the Scottish Executive to ensure predictions contained in the Tayside Economic Review 2004 do not turn into reality.
The review — jointly published by Scottish Economic Research, the local authorities of Angus, Dundee and Perth and Kinross, Scottish Enterprise Tayside and the Tayside Economic Forum — is a comprehensive study of the area’s economy.
In the publication it is forecast that full-time equivalent (FTE) employment in Tayside will decrease while UK and Scotland employment will increase between 2003-2010. Over the seven-year period, FTE employment is expected to increase in the UK by 0.5% and in Scotland by 0.2% on an annual basis.
However, Tayside as a whole is expected to see a fall in FTE employment by 0.8% per year. Perth and Kinross Council is expected to witness a fall of 0.6% per year from 2003 to 2010 — a fact particularly worrying Mr Fraser.
The figures have prompted him to call for Perthshire to be a made a “priority location” for a civil service jobs bonanza.
“These are worrying predictions and I believe we must act now to ensure such forecasts never become a reality,” he said.
“The Scottish Executive must create the right economic climate in Scotland so that business can flourish in Perth and Kinross.
“At present there is too much red tape and bureaucracy,” the MSP continued. “Couple this with high business rates and it is no wonder Perth and Kinross is predicted to see higher unemployment in the future.”
Mr Fraser insists the problem could be remedied with relative ease. “The Scottish Executive has the capability to stop this happening by relocating civil service jobs to the Perth and Kinross area,” he claimed. “Perth and Kinross has a below average share of public sector jobs.
“On top of this there have been no civil service jobs transferred out of Edinburgh to Perth and Kinross, while many other areas have benefited.”
The MSP hopes the area will benefit in the near future — and insists there is no reason why it should continue to miss out on a Government-funded jobs boost.
“I find it difficult to understand why Perth and Kinross has not benefited from any jobs dispersal,” Mr Fraser said. “It offers a mixture of both beautiful rural countryside along with the greater facilities available within Perth.
“Further still, it is close to the central belt as well as at the door step to the Highlands.
“This is a prime location for any of the civil service jobs,” he added. |
