What action it is taking to combat unemployment levels in North Ayrshire, given that they are significantly higher than the national averag…

The Scottish Executive is very conscious of the particular problems of areas such as North Ayrshire. We are working closely with the Ayrshire Economic Forum to ensure that through investing in jobs and skills and encouraging the growth of new businesses that we create sustainable economic growth and employment opportunities for all members of the community. The key economic development agency for the area is Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire (SEA), which is committed to developing proposals to further economic development and generate job opportunities across Ayrshire. The resource allocation system operated by Scottish Enterprise already takes account of both opportunity and need in local enterprise company areas and a central budget allows for response to unexpected opportunities and needs in particular areas. SEA received £1 million in additional funding for its local action plan for 2002-03 to address identified needs in the local economy.There are already in existence a number of initiatives and strategies across the Ayrshire area designed to assist wider social and economic regeneration. The Ayrshire Strategy for Jobs is a five-year strategy designed to create a more diverse economic base; to facilitate the acquisition of new skills; to enhance Ayrshire's competitiveness as a business location, and to address problems of economic exclusion. The New Deal has helped over 5,000 people across Ayrshire enter employment and there are special initiatives for those clients who face particular difficulties. The Executive's Training for Work programme is available to unemployed adults on a voluntary basis and, in 2002-03, aims to offer 500 work-related training opportunities to clients in Ayrshire. SEA also provides training via programmes such as Skillseekers, the Individual Employment Fund and the Employment Initiative for Social Inclusion Partnership areas. North Ayrshire has benefited directly from over £3 million from the European Regional Development Fund and the European Social Fund from the Western Scotland Objective 2 Programme 2000-06. Projects approved will promote the regeneration of disadvantaged areas, support vocational training and enhance economic development opportunities. Additionally, a further £8.5 million has been awarded to projects which will impact directly on North Ayrshire.