Programme for Government welcomed by Aberdeenshire East MSP

Aberdeenshire East MSP Gillian Martin has hailed the Programme for Government unveiled by the First Minister at the Scottish Parliament.

Investment of £25 million was announced for a new nationwide Transition Training Fund (TTF) to help provide support for up to 10,000 people most at risk of redundancy and unemployment due to Covid-19.

It will also help to provide the Scottish workforce and economy the skills it needs for the future.

Following the North Sea oil and gas downturn in 2015 a previous TTF had been set-up to help workers move and retrain into different sectors.

A £62 million Energy Transition Fund to support businesses in the oil, gas and energy sectors over the next five years as they grow and diversify, and help attract private sector investment in the north-east has also been created.

And a total of £135 million of additional investment will be provided to ensure young people catch-up on any lost education due to Covid-19.

This will include funding to recruit 1400 additional teachers and 200 support staff.

Meanwhile, the first tranche of the £2 billion Low Carbon Fund will also be spent to help secure investment in delivering a Green Jobs Fund and provide £60 million for industrial decarbonisation.

Ms Martin said: “This Programme for Government is ambitious and shows the determination of the Scottish Government as we navigate our way through the coronavirus pandemic.

“Investment in a Transition Training Fund will ensure anyone facing unemployment can seek support to help them retrain and find work in another sector.

“As a north-east MSP I have seen how this funding scheme has worked previously and I am delighted it has been rolled out nationwide to help others.

“In Parliament I have called on the Scottish Government to support young people and the First Minister has made it clear they will be at the heart of our recovery.

“I am pleased investment has been provided to help support the North Sea oil and gas industry as it looks to diversify and move towards a low-carbon economy.

“Our commitment to tackling climate change, working towards a green economy and net-zero emissions has also been renewed as we work hard to avoid a climate crisis.”

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