Press Release

30^th October 2002

McNeil Comments on April 2002 New Earnings Survey
Commenting on the April 2002 New Earnings Survey, MSP for Greenock & Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, today said:

"The survey shows that in 21 areas of the UK – from Bournemouth to North Ayrshire – wages have fallen. That Inverclyde is one of these areas is disappointing, but not altogether surprising.

"It has long been recognised that we are over-dependent on manufacturing in general and electronics in particular. If those sectors, as they have done, experience a downturn and start driving down wage bills, then we can expect to feel the effects disproportionately.

"If we want to be better insulated from these global economic cycles, we need to broaden our economic base. At the same time, we need to make sure the jobs we have are higher skilled, higher valued and, it follows, higher paid."
ENDS

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