Curran: ‘devolve work programme now’

Shadow Scottish Secretary Margaret Curran has called for the immediate devolution of powers over jobs and shale gas.

In a letter to Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael, the Labour MP said the proposals had already been discussed and that Carmichael had agreed to look at them within 48 hours.

“Scotland has been failed by the Work Programme, with as few as 15% of people on the programme in some parts of Scotland finding a job. Devolution to Scotland and then to Scottish local authorities would enable the Work Programme to better meet the needs of people across Scotland,” she wrote.