New Deal schemes in Scotland fall behind rest of UK

New Deal schemes in Scotland are not performing as well as in
other parts of the United Kingdom, according to the latest
statistical bulletin of the Scottish executive.

Under the New Deal schemes introduced in 1998 unemployment rates
for the long term unemployed and people over 50 years of age are
falling in Scotland at significantly lower rates than the rest of
the country. While people aged over 25 years and under 50
unemployed for over two years have decreased by 19 per cent between
1999/2000 and 2000/2001, the Scottish executive admit that this is
much slower than in England and Wales.

A similar pattern has emerged for people over 50 years who are
unemployed for over six months. In Scotland this has decreased by
17 per cent in the same period, but has fallen significantly faster
in the rest of the country.

The decrease in young unemployment (22 per cent) is keeping pace
with the rest of the UK, while no comparative percentages are
provided for lone parents.

 

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