This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Progress in helping areas most in need
17/10/2006
More people are benefiting from targeted investment to help communities suffering from multiple deprivation, Communities Minister Malcolm Chisholm said today.
Welcoming the publication of the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) 2006, he said:
"This is a wide ranging report which shows we are making a real difference - such as 25,000 fewer people excluded from work since the first SIMD report in 2004.
"Glasgow and the West of Scotland still have the highest concentrations of deprivation in Scotland but I welcome the real progress that has been made here.
"We have made huge investments in health, education and housing.
"Unemployment is around its lowest for a generation and more people are getting the skills and opportunities for work. Crime is falling and the seized assets of criminals are being reinvested in areas hardest hit by crime.
"We are ahead of the UK in meeting targets to end child poverty, and are continuing our massive reduction in pensioner poverty.
"SIMD drills down to give evidence of what's happening on the ground. It is an invaluable measure and is constantly being improved and updated.
"It shows significant improvements in the most deprived areas where we are targeting specific resources. These have increased from £50 million in 1999 to £130 million this year and next.
"But clearly we can't attack multiple deprivation with a single source of funding.
"SIMD gives a focus for all mainstream budgets from the Executive, local authorities, health boards, police and other agencies for future spending plans. We still have a lot to do to maintain progress.
"We are co-ordinating this better through Community Planning Partnerships. It is that concerted action on many fronts which will help remove the long term blight of deprivation from our communities in greatest need."