Jamie Hepburn, MSP for Central Scotland, has expressed his concern at the latest unemployment figures which show the jobless total in has risen by over 11,000 across the Central Scotland region in the last year.

Figures from the Office of National Statistics show that the number of people claiming unemployment benefit across the Central Scotland region, which Jamie represents in the Scottish Parliament, the total number of people claiming unemployment benefit was 23,041, an increase of 11,295 on the previous year.

Commenting, Jamie Hepburn MSP said:

“These figures confirm that the impact of the recession is being felt in the region.

“Nowhere is immune from the effects of the recession, but the unemployment rate in Central Scotland is a little above the national average, which is concerning.

“The SNP Government is continuing to do all it can to limit the impact of the recession, for example through the Town Centre Regeneration Fund which will see fresh investment into the towns across the region in the coming months.  I would again encourage other projects and groups in the area who think they might qualify to apply for the second round of funding.

“These latest figures also show why the Scottish Parliament urgently needs all the normal powers that other countries have to channel resources into fighting recession.”