UNEMPLOYMENT in Scotland fell by 26,000 in the period April to June 2016, and now stands at 143,000, according to the latest figures.

The Office for National Statistics show the Scottish unemployment rate is 5.2 per cent, which is above the rate of 4.9 per cent for the whole of the UK.

Borders MP and Scottish Secretary David Mundell told the Peeblesshire News: "I welcome today’s positive figures showing a record increase in the number of people in Scotland in work, and the number of people out of work at its lowest since 2009.

 "While we cannot be complacent as we enter a period of adjustment, today’s figures show that we enter the EU negotiations from a position of strength. Our continued priority must still be to work closely with the Scottish Government as ‘team UK’ to promote economic growth and prosperity."

The report shows that economic activity increased by 24,000 over the quarter and now stands at 2,772,000.