Listen
Action to support young people
07/12/2011
Angela Constance has been named as the Minister for Youth Employment, following the First Minister's announcement of the new post last week.
Aileen Campbell will move to Ms Constance's previous role of Minister for Children and Young People, and Derek Mackay joins the government as the Minister for Local Government and Planning.
The new Youth Employment Minister announced that she will a host a special session of the National Economic Forum, to bring together leaders from business, local authorities, the third and public sectors in the interests of young people. The Forum will be held next month.
The forum will reflect and build on the meetings the new Youth Employment Minister will now undertake as a matter of priority with key partners to discuss the £30 million additional investment in young people announced last week by the First Minister. An initial set of decisions will be announced before Parliament breaks for Christmas.
Ms Constance said:
"The Scottish Government has developed a range of good initiatives - such as the record 25,000 Modern Apprenticeships per year, and 'Opportunities for All' to guarantee a training or learning place for all 16-19 year-olds - but more needs to be done and more will be done. I am meeting local authorities, the third sector, college sector and private sector employers to consider how to maximise the effectiveness of the £30 million of new resources we have allocated to boost youth employment.
"I also plan to convene a special session of the National Economic Forum early in the new year to ensure that we keep listening to new ideas, keep working harder for our young people, and move forward together for their benefit. We face great economic challenges, and I am committed to working with business, the third and public sectors, and of course young people, to ensure that the investments we have and the new initiatives we will take leave no young person behind."
Mr Mackay said:
"I am delighted to join the Scottish Government, and look forward to working with colleagues, Parliament and local authorities to deliver on our ambitions for Scotland. Boosting opportunities for our young people is of huge importance, in which local authorities can and do make a significant contribution. I will be playing my full part in supporting Angela as she implements these shared and vital objectives."
Ms Campbell said:
"The importance of the early years is crucial. We must support the very best in developing our children, so that they grow up into caring, responsible adults who make a positive contribution to our society and the economy. Working with partners, we will do all we can to give every child the best start in life and that we get it right for every child, including the most vulnerable."
Full details of the changes to the ministerial team, subject to the necessary approvals, are as follows:
- Angela Constance is Minister for Youth Employment. She will report to the First Minister through attendance at Cabinet. Given the significant overlap between the new Minister's responsibilities and those of the Finance and Education Secretaries, the new Minister will be accountable to both Cabinet Secretaries who will retain budgetary control for the areas of work falling to the new Minister. The new Minister will focus on drawing together all of the activities across Government to support youth employment
- Aileen Campbell replaces Ms Constance as Minister for Children and Young People
- Derek Mackay, who has today resigned form his post as a councillor on Renfrewshire Council, replaces Ms Campbell as Minister for Local Government and Planning
- Alasdair Allan's new title is Minister for Learning, Science and Scotland's Languages