A SCOTTISH Government minister left Clydebank in 'no doubt’ that the town needs more support to tackle rising levels of deprivation.

Alex Neil, secretary for social justice and communities, was warned about the rising number of working poor in West Dunbartonshire when he met with anti-poverty campaigners and food bank volunteers on Thursday, August 6.

The minister was in town as part of his Fairer Scotland initiative, which sees local communities put forward their ideas for a more fair and just society.

Hosting a workshop with community activists at Clydebank Town Hall, Mr Neil learned about the everyday challenges facing Clydebank households.

He told the Post the problems were clear to see.

“Clydebank and West Dunbartonshire’s deprivation was coming across in the meetings I have had with community groups here, there’s no doubt,” Mr Neil said.

“People across West Dunbartonshire are clearly feeling the damaging effects of the UK Government’s austerity agenda.

“In the face of these challenges the Scottish Government is spending nearly £2.5 million in West Dunbartonshire to mitigate against cuts and policies such as the harmful bedroom tax and help to low income households to buy everyday items like food, shoes and beds.

“With more UK Government cuts set to come, we will continue to do what we can to protect low-paid families through our welfare mitigation schemes, extensions to free childcare and by encouraging employers to pay the living wage.” Y Sort It representative Danny Rankin, 17, attended the Fairer Scotland workshop and asked Mr Neil to enforce the living wage.

He said: “We’re down here to speak about how the future’s going to go, the fairness in our country and how we can make Scotland fairer.

“I spoke about the working poor to the minister. I’m 17-years-old and have to run my own house on an apprentice’s wage, which is very low. I’m working 35 hours, the same as everyone else and doing the same job but getting paid less.

“No one was shocked by that at the meeting, everyone knows it’s going on, so it was just a matter of trying to look to see what we can do to change it.” Jackie Maceira, chairman of Clyde Shopping Mobility, attended the meeting to call for more opportunities for young people.

He said: “The meeting went well and I feel the minister did listen to people, the atmosphere was positive.

“The top concern of most people in the meeting was young people and how we secure a better future for them.

“Back in the 1960s, '70s and '80s young people had no problem getting a trade or a good job after university, that’s not how it is now, and the minister acknowledged that in the meeting.” He added: “I’ve never been involved with ministers coming to West Dunbartonshire to hear our opinion — I think it’s a good approach, especially if they’re going around the whole of Scotland and hearing all the communities.

“I’m hoping they take all of the things we talked about on board when it comes to writing their policies.”