Mr Gibson also asked if the government's Strategic Transport Projects Review would treat as high priority speedier rail, safer road, enhanced harbours and an all-weather landing scheme for Wick Airport.
The authority said tackling youth unemployment was a top priority and said that in the last year it had taken on 391 young people as part of its modern apprenticeship scheme.
Launching the scheme, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander, said the government's "first priority is to make sure the pilot works and the benefit is actually being passed on to customers" (something already being hotly disputed in Scotland).