Chamber and committees

On 15 December, I hosted a strategic roundtable discussion with representatives of local authorities, the third sector, college sector and private sector employers to consider how to maximise the effectiveness of this new resource. The STUC also attended this meeting.

A special session of the National Economic Forum will be convened on 1 February to explore what more we need to do to support young people into employment with a wide range of partners and stakeholders. Again the STUC, and other Trade Unions, will be invited to participate.

I presume this question refers to my announcement on 22 December of £1.5 million to support young people, including care leavers and young carers, access employment. Skills Development Scotland (SDS) will establish appropriate measures and safeguards to ensure that this funding achieves its intended goal between now and the end of this financial year.

The Scottish Government is currently consulting with a range of partners on the best use of the additional funding. Future skills demand will feature in these discussions.

It is for employers, not government, to create permanent jobs. This government will continue to work with employers from businesses of all sizes and across all sectors to encourage them to employ more young people, including young graduates.

It is for employers, not Government, to create permanent job opportunities. This Government will continue to work with employers from businesses of all sizes and across all sectors to encourage them to employ young people.

Through our investment in post-16 education we support young people to develop the skills they need to access and sustain jobs now and in the future.

It is for employers, not Government, to create permanent job opportunities. This Government will continue to work with employers from businesses of all sizes and across all sectors to encourage them to employ young people across all sections of our communities in line with current equal opportunities legislation.

To support young women entering the labour market, career information advice and guidance, provided by Skills Development Scotland, encourages them to challenge stereotypes and pre-conceived ideas about their career choice and to overcome barriers to progression in an appropriate and supportive fashion.

The Scottish Government is convening a special session of the National Economic Forum on 1 February to explore with a wide range of partners and stakeholders how to maximise the effectiveness of this new resource. This builds on a strategic roundtable discussion with representatives of local authorities, the third sector, college sector and private sector employers on 15 December to consider this same issue. I am also planning to consult with a range of employers and other stakeholders ahead of the National Economic Forum. The £30 million announcement by the First Minister is in addition to a range of budgets applied to the issue.

The £30 million of additional funding is made up of £6 million per year for the next three years from consequential funding falling from the UK Government’s budget combined with £12 million from across the Scottish Government budget in financial year 2012-13.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-04748 on 18 January 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-04751 on 18 January 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.