Sandra White SNP MSP for Glasgow has welcomed the announcement by the Scottish Government that an extra 5,000 apprenticeship places have been created to help anyone aged 16 and above to enter and progress in the job market despite the current economic conditions.

This brings the total figure of opportunities for work-focused training to almost 40,000.

Sandra White MSP congratulated the Scottish Government on its continued funding to create more jobs in these current economic times: "This extra funding shows that the Scottish Government is concerned with getting people to work and keeping them in work to help sustain the  economic recovery.

"Whilst the new Westminster administration is concerned with job cuts, the Holyrood administration is concerned with job creation.

"16 - 19 year-olds are a key priority group and is essential we make it as easy as possible for them to find work in these current economic times, these additional places are vital for economic recovery."

Notes:

1. In 2009/10 the Scottish Government invested £16 million to fund 7,800 additional Modern Apprenticeship starts - supporting a target of 18,500 new starts across Scotland.

2. This target was exceeded with 20,216 people starting an apprenticeship.

3. In the latest round, approximately 10,000 apprenticeship places were allocated for those aged 16-19 as a key priority group during and following the recession.

4. This follows the announcement in April that businesses in Scotland had already signed up to employ more than 7,000 modern apprentices this financial year.