This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Donald Dewar's pledge to tackle Social Exclusion in Glasgow
24/06/1998
The Government's commitment to create real opportunities for the most needy in Glasgow has resulted in the levering in of £100 million towards education and employment initiatives and action programmes to regenerate the most deprived communities in the city.
Speaking at the Drumchapel Citizens Advice Bureau AGM today, Scottish Secretary Donald Dewar stressed that the Government's efforts to tackle social exclusion in Scotland have to make a real impact in Glasgow. He said:
"The New Deal for Young People will create opportunities for an estimated 5,000 young people in Glasgow to get off welfare into work. These opportunities are being created by the investment of roughly £15 million a year, or an estimated £60 million over the four year programme. In addition as the New Deal is rolled out there will be opportunities for lone parents, for people with a disability or a long term illness, and the long term unemployed.
"Glasgow was also successful in its bid for Employment Zone status - the only Zone in Scotland, and one out of only five in the UK as a whole. This brings with it an additional £11m of funding, which will get long term unemployed people aged over 25 off welfare and into work, through quality work and training programmes. The activities of the Zone are to be targeted at the eight Regeneration Areas in Glasgow.
"Our emphasis on the prevention of exclusion means we have to look in particular at the needs of children and young people. As part of this process we have provided very significant resources to education in Glasgow since coming into office: over £20m in total to improve standards, and upgrade and refurbish school buildings.
"In addition, Glasgow City Council has received £1.9m for an early intervention initiative, which will raise standards of literacy and numeracy in the early years of primary school; a simple yet effective way of giving our children the good start they deserve.
"The creation of opportunities for individuals must be balanced with measures which tackle the underlying decay of too many of our communities - poor housing, high crime levels, squalid environment, a lack of decent leisure and recreation facilities.
"Action we have already taken includes:
· £8.35 million for three major housing initiatives in Glasgow under New Housing Partnerships;
· £3 million a year available to the GDA to assist in the preparation of brownfield sites for housing;
· £4.98 million has gone to Glasgow under the Rough Sleepers Initiative;
· Scottish Homes' budget for this year in Glasgow is approximately £55 million.
· £16 million available in 1999-00 to fund new Social Inclusion Partnerships, and I am sure that communities in Glasgow will be able to benefit from this.
"Glasgow's regeneration needs are different in scale and nature to the rest of Scotland. We need to ensure that the significant investment and effort which goes into the regeneration process is used to best effect.
"That is why I have asked the Glasgow Regeneration Alliance to draw up a comprehensive forward looking plan for the City. As a sign of our commitment to the process we have committed half a million pounds to the Alliance this year. I hope you will soon start to see the tangible benefits of that process."
News Release: 1308/98
June 24, 1998