What action has been taken to reduce the gap in unemployment rates between the worst areas in the (a) West Dunbartonshire and (b) East Dunb…

The UK Government has the main responsibility for unemployment. Jobcentre Plus (JCP) delivers a range of employment programmes to support individuals into work, specifically through the New Deal. In West Dunbartonshire, Action Teams for Jobs also helps jobless people from disadvantaged groups who may not use JCP mainstream services. A range of complementary services, funded through the Scottish Executive, Scottish Enterprise, European Social Fund and Local Authorities, such as vocational training (Training for Work), childcare services, financial advice, and the Working for Families Fund (in West Dunbartonshire) supports development of employability skills and the removal of barriers to employment.
The source of unemployment at ward level is the claimant count, which is the number of people claiming unemployment benefits. Table 1 below shows the unemployment rates for all wards in East Dunbartonshire and West Dunbartonshire, the totals for East Dunbartonshire and West Dunbartonshire local authorities and the total for Scotland.
Table 1: Claimant count unemployment rates for East and West Dunbartonshire, 1996-2004

| Unemployment Rate

| 1996
| 1997
| 1998
| 1999
| 2000
| 2001
| 2002
| 2003
| 2004

Scotland
| 7.2%
| 6.0%
| 5.4%
| 5.0%
| 4.5%
| 4.0%
| 3.9%
| 3.8%
| 3.5%

East Dunbartonshire:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Barloch
| 3.2%
| 2.6%
| 2.1%
| 1.7%
| 1.5%
| 1.4%
| 1.3%
| 1.4%
| 1.0%

Keystone
| 3.3%
| 2.2%
| 1.8%
| 1.4%
| 1.3%
| 1.4%
| 1.3%
| 1.4%
| 1.3%

Craigdhu
| 5.3%
| 4.4%
| 3.9%
| 3.1%
| 2.8%
| 2.2%
| 2.0%
| 2.4%
| 1.7%

Clober
| 4.9%
| 3.8%
| 3.2%
| 2.5%
| 2.5%
| 2.2%
| 2.1%
| 2.2%
| 1.7%

Kilmardinny
| 2.7%