Ross slams Holyrood for lack of support for Moray
Moray MP Douglas Ross has criticised the Scottish Government over revelations that Moray and Aberdeen are the worst performing regions in Scotland for jobs.
Commenting on the figures Douglas said, “It is shocking that Moray is performing well below the national average in terms of general, female and youth unemployment. Despite this Moray and the north east continues to receive poor financial support from Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP Government compared to the Central Belt.
“There is no doubt that the decline in employment in the oil and gas sector has impacted on our figures and, for that reason, the recent announcement in the UK Government’s budget for support for the industry is welcome, as is the freeze in whisky duty, which is a vital industry in Moray. But these gains are offset by the continuing neglect of our area by Holyrood which consistently pour resources into other regions of Scotland instead.
“We have just learnt that Moray Council, which delivers many vital services for local people, faces having to make even more cuts in-order to deliver its budget. This is directly due to the poor financial settlements it has received from Holyrood. And we have continued bad news from NHS Grampian with services provided by Dr Gray’s Hospital being eroded with the hospital struggling to recruit junior doctors, not helped by Scotland’s reputation as the highest taxed part of the UK. NHS Grampian receives less money than any other area in Scotland.
“It’s about time the SNP woke up to the challenges facing Moray and the North East of Scotland and gave us some support. I would also like our local MSP to make representations to the Scottish Government on our behalf which he has so far conspicuously failed to do.”