Weekly Update (Monday, 1st of February 2016)
Channel: Scottish National Party (SNP)
Date: 2016-02-01

Today, I’m in Aberdeen for meetings with the oil and gas industry. I’ve been hearing first hand about the challenges many businesses are facing. I also know it is an anxious time, not only those who work in the sector, but also their families.

That's why, as part of the work co-ordinated by the Scottish Government's Energy Jobs Taskforce, I'm announcing a new 12 million pound Transition Training Fund. This will help people maintain the skills that the industry needs and, where necessary, retrain to support our wider economy. 

We're also making a further 12.5 million pounds available to help firms sustain growth and compete internationally by developing new innovative technologies.

These announcements come a matter of days after we announced £379 million of new investment here in the north-east. 

And of course, this is on top of one billion pounds that the Scottish Government is pumping in to deliver the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route and improve journey times on the Aberdeen to Inverness rail link. 

Aberdeen and the north-east are central to Scotland’s future growth and prosperity.

My government stands shoulder to shoulder with all those affected by the downturn in oil price. We will do everything within our power to propel the local economy forward in these difficult times.