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East Dunbartonshire Conservatives are here to help - not just at election time - but all the time.
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Scottish Conservatives News
Conservatives call for Government to publish spending details -
Scottish Conservatives are calling for the SNP Government to publish online details of all spending over £25,000.
Derek Brownlee MSP, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Finance & Sustainable Growth, says:
“Labour’s debt crisis is affecting us all. The interest on debt payments alone by 2012 will be £60 billion, double the entire annual Scottish budget. The Conservatives have consistently asked Alex Salmond to make savings and he has rejected every single idea we have put forward.
“The fact is that Scottish Budget must be based on the reality of imminent reductions in spending forecast by independent commentators, and highlighted by the Auditor General. Reductions in spending must be planned in the way which impacts service delivery as little as possible, and we expect the NHS to be protected.
“Further efforts must be made to grow the private sector to create the jobs of the future. This means changing the culture within Government to focus on delivering more for less, prioritising effectively and supporting economic growth. We have already called for the Scottish Parliament to set an example in this regard and cut its running costs.
“The Government must also spend less and it must spend taxpayers’ money more wisely. It’s time for the Government to open its books. The Conservatives are demanding the SNP Government now commits to publishing online details of all spending over £25,000. This would be a transparency revolution in public spending.
“When spending decisions are open to full public scrutiny, every Government Minister will know that they have to justify their decision. A Government that is more transparent is more prudent and we have to start that process right now.”
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Scottish Parent Teacher Council backs class size petition -
The Parents' Petition, calling for more choice for parents in education, is being backed by the Scottish Parent Teacher Council. The news comes as the SNP Government admitted its flagship class sizes policy was completely dead and little more than a cynical con to win votes in 2007.
The petition was set up by Graham Simpson, Conservative Councillor in South Lanarkshire and Conservative candidate for East Kilbride at the British General Election.
He did this after South Lanarkshire Council took parents to court last summer to prevent them from sending their children to the schools of their choice. The Council lost every single case.
Now Judith Gillespie of the Scottish Parent Teacher Council has submitted a response to the petition, backing its aims and stating that ‘politicians who decided to cut class sizes did parents a serious disservice when they did not simultaneous[ly] make that reduced class size a legal limit. They ducked the issue because this would have limited the number of placing requests that could be granted and so would have been an unpopular move. Instead they pretended that reducing class sizes was a win-win situation for everyone. It was not and never could be.’
Councillor Graham Simpson says:
“When I launched this I called it the Parents' Petition because it is parents and their children who are let down by councils who try to drive down class sizes and reduce choice in defiance of the legal position.
“I was delighted to support the 18 sets of parents who successfully fought South Lanarkshire Council in the courts last year to get their kids into the schools of their choice.
“Education chiefs in that council were in denial then and they still are.
"Councils should not pick and choose the laws they like and don't like, especially when the SNP's class sizes policy isn't even backed up in legislation. This institutional arrogance cannot be allowed to occur anywhere else."
Liz Smith MSP, Shadow Minister for Schools, says:
"The SNP has admitted its class sizes policy is dead in the water. It was little more than a cynical con to win votes at the 2007 elections. We cannot have a situation where councils pay out huge legal fees because they are being held to ransom by the SNP’s unworkable policy on class sizes.
“This policy has created numerous problems and an additional financial burden. Thousands of parents across Scotland quite properly want the right to choose the best education for their children and the fact that this can be denied by meaningless targets and bureaucratic chaos is completely unacceptable. I am delighted the Scottish Parent Teacher Council feels the same way.”
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Labour goes for broke with £800m new spending demands -
Scottish Labour has demanded almost £800million of extra spending in the Scottish Budget, on the same day the Chancellor of the Exchequer refused to rule out 17% cuts over the next three years.
Derek Brownlee MSP, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Finance & Sustainable Growth, says:
"It is astonishing that on the very day the Chancellor refused to deny the prospect of 17% cuts over the next three years if Labour wins the British General Election, Scottish Labour is objecting to the Scottish Government budget because it doesn’t spend enough.
“In recent weeks Scottish Labour has demanded almost £800m of extra spending. They have abandoned any pretence of credibility on Scotland’s budget.”
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SNP admit class sizes pledge was cynical con: Now they must stop holding back our childrens education -
The SNP must now focus on delivering for Scotland’s children, after the Education Secretary admitted its flagship pledge to drive class sizes down to 18 for children in P1-3 during this parliament will not be delivered.
Liz Smith MSP, Shadow Minister for Children, Schools & Skills, says:
“At last the SNP has admitted that their class size pledge was a cynical con to buy votes. It was dead in the water from the outset. The SNP's class size policy has been an unmitigated disaster.
“It is laughable for Michael Russell to try to blame Labour’s recession for the SNP’s failure thus far on its class size policy. We know that senior civil servants were admitting as far as back as summer 2007 that this policy was unachievable, long before the start of the economic downturn.
“As a recent poll showed, smaller class sizes are nowhere near being the priority of ordinary Scots. Parents don’t want Alex Salmond dictating how many children should be in a class – they want headteachers and teachers left to get on with the job teaching their children how to read, write and count.
“Scottish Conservatives want policies which will drive up standards and increase choice for parents. We want taxpayers’ money to follow the child, enabling parents to take their child out of a poorly performing school and place them in a school of their choice where standards are better.
“We also want the SNP to stop ploughing scarce resources into free school meals, assisting those who can well afford to pay. Just like prescriptions, resources should be spent on helping those most in need.
“The SNP needs to listen to us and stop holding back our children’s education.”
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Scots drink 25% more alcohol than rest of UK: Targeted minimum pricing the way forward -
The SNP is using research published today – showing that Scots drink 25% more alcohol per head than the rest of the UK – to push again for indiscriminate blanket minimum pricing.
Murdo Fraser MSP, Scottish Conservative Deputy Leader, says:
“Scottish Conservatives have always been in favour of targeted minimum pricing and raising the price of problem drinks rather than targeting all drinks. We support targeted alcohol taxation, with a rise in Excise Duty on alcopops, and super-strength beers and ciders.
“But we oppose the SNP’s policy of indiscriminate blanket minimum pricing, which is probably illegal, penalises responsible drinkers and will cause immense damage to the Scotch whisky industry. A poll today shows nearly three quarters of people also reject these SNP plans.
“We all agree the human cost of alcohol misuse in Scotland is immense. Families are torn apart and communities are shattered because of it.
“We need to have better enforcement of the current laws, particularly in restricting sales to those under age and prosecuting those who sell to underage drinkers.
“We should have much better education on the adverse health effects of alcohol.
“We need to clamp down on irresponsible promotions by retailers, which is why we support a ban on retailers from selling alcohol below cost price.
“Our proposals for targeted minimum pricing are effective, evidence based and legally competent. They stand in sharp contrast to the proposal by the SNP Government for indiscriminate blanket minimum pricing, which meets none of these key tests.”
Ends
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Latest open prison escape: MacAskill needs to explain why he ignored Spencer recommendations -
Professor Alec Spencer, who conducted the review into the last high-profile escape from an open jail before Peter Duff absconded this week, has blamed Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill for the latest fiasco.
John Lamont MSP, Shadow Minister for Community Safety, says:
“The Justice Secretary is under real pressure now. Professor Spencer specifically recommended in his report that dangerous prisoners should not be sent to open prisons until the year before their earliest parole date. Peter Duff was less than a third of the way through a nine-year sentence. Kenny MacAskill needs to tell us why he did not accept this very sensible recommendation.
“The SNP is hell bent on creating a soft-touch Scotland and is not learning from past mistakes. We have consistently called for an independent review into the Open Estate and that review is now all the more urgent.”
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Literacy and numeracy testing: Gutless Labour, SNP and Lib Dems have betrayed Scotlands schoolchildren -
Labour and the SNP have betrayed Scotland’s schoolchildren by turning their backs on the promise of more rigorous testing of literacy and numeracy by the end of primary 7 in schools.
This Conservative policy was unanimously backed by all parties in the Scottish Parliament in January 2009, but sacked Minister Fiona Hyslop did nothing about it.
Today, Scottish Conservatives tabled an identical amendment to the one passed unanimously in January 2009, which was subsequently rejected by Labour, the SNP and the Lib Dems.
Liz Smith MSP, Shadow Minister for Children, Schools & Skills, says:
“This is a betrayal of Scotland’s schoolchildren. In the first parliamentary debate of 2009, the Scottish Conservatives called for more rigorous testing of basic skills in reading, writing and arithmetic by the time the pupil reaches the end of primary 7. The other parties, including the Scottish Government, supported that move but the Education Secretary did absolutely nothing about it.
"Good literacy is the most important key to unlock so many other opportunities within education and the development of life-skills. We want to encourage schools to adopt proven methods which improve literacy, such as the phonetic spelling success of Clackmannanshire Council and more rigorous testing. There must be a greater focus on literacy in the early years.
“If there is one thing parents expect when they send their children off to school it is that they come home able to read, write and count up. 76% of voters think the issue is the top priority facing our schools.
“For purely political reasons, the will of the Scottish Parliament has been ignored. Only by tackling the problem head on will we address the falling standards in Scotland’s schools, yet the other parties haven’t got the guts to do it.”
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Quarter of a million Scots could lose out if Labour axes AA and DLA -
Scotland could lose £157million
Proposals contained in the UK Government's Green Paper 'Shaping the Future of Care Together' could see Attendance Allowance and Disability Living Allowance for the over 65s scrapped to fund a National Care Service in England.
Almost a quarter of a million Scots could lose out if these benefits are scrapped. It is vital that the SNP Government makes sure that if these benefits are scrapped that any new money coming through Barnett consequentials reaches those people who rely on these disability benefits.
Scottish Conservatives have calculated that under our current proportionate share of these benefits, Labour’s proposals could mean a loss of £157million to Scotland.
Jackson Carlaw MSP, Shadow Minister for Public Health, says:
“The Labour Government is in disarray, with its Health Secretary openly contradicting the Green Paper which called for Attendance Allowance and Disability Living Allowance for the over 65s to be scrapped to fund their National Care Service. There is no doubt that scrapping these benefits would be a serious mistake and a retrograde step.
“It could take away direct cash benefits from almost a quarter of a million vulnerable pensioners which allows them to choose the way in which this supplementary income can make their lives easier and offset the higher living costs associated with disability. The cost to Scotland through any resultant Barnett consequential could be as much as £157million.
“If the UK Government were to proceed in the direction indicated in the Green Paper it would constitute a fundamental change in the purpose and definition of disability benefits. Major charities are all warning that these plans will make millions of elderly people worse off.
“If this wasn't bad enough, there has been very little thought about how Scotland would be affected by these proposals, which is an unforgivable way to treat our vulnerable pensioners.
“If these allowances are scrapped then any resulting funding for Scotland will be open to Barnett consequentials and it is simply vital the SNP Government makes sure that Scotland receives its current share of the total spend and that the money is utilised in a way which doesn't compromise the choice or independence of how to spend the money.”
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Open Prisons: SNPs soft-touch response -
The Scottish Government has rejected two key recommendations contained in the report into escapes from Scotland's open prisons, namely limiting transfer to an open prison only within a year of possible release and the electronic tagging of convicts when they are sent there.
Shadow Justice Secretary, Bill Aitken says:
"After the catalogue of escapes from our open prisons this is further sad proof that Alex Salmond's SNP is hell-bent on creating a soft touch Scotland.
"The SNP has abandoned the first duty of government, to protect the public. It is more interested in emptying our jails than locking up dangerous criminals. And by refusing to tag convicts in open prisons the SNP has demonstrated once again that it is the criminal's best friend."
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Sex offender on the run for six months: Why are we only being told now? -
A convicted sex offender, Davinder Singh, has been on the run for six months after failing to comply with his registration requirements. This is the first time this case has come to light.
John Lamont MSP, Shadow Minister for Community Safety, says:
"There are serious questions to ask here. Why are we only just learning about this man now, when he has been on the run for six months?
“Merely placing somebody on the sex offenders register is not enough. That is why Scottish Conservatives have repeatedly called for lie detector tests for sex offenders, as part of a package of measures which also include the naming and shaming of absconded sex offenders and GPS tracking.
“Here, an absconded sex offender has not been named and that is unacceptable. Sex crimes, particularly involving youngsters, can ruin the lives of victims and traumatise their families. Whilst we may never be able to stamp this out entirely we can at least with a mixture of realism and the use of technology do everything possible to minimise the risk to the public and particularly young children. The SNP Government and Kenny MacAskill have a lot of explaining to do.”
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Beauly-Denny: Decision made but Ministers shambolic performance means too much is still not clear -
In a shambolic performance from Jim Mather, the Scottish Government has finally announced a decision on the proposed Beauly-Denny power line.
Murdo Fraser, Scottish Conservative Deputy Leader and MSP for Mid-Scotland & Fife, says:
"This was a shambolic announcement from the SNP Government on what has been the most controversial planning application in Scottish history. Energy Minister Jim Mather was incapable of answering a series of simple questions about the mitigation measures or the likely timescale for construction of the new line.
"It is vital to communities in Stirling, Perthshire and the Highlands along the pylon route that they are told exactly what will be done to protect their interests. All we are left with today is a fog of confusion. We need urgent clarity from the SNP Government on the detailed conditions of the planning consent for this line.
“We need to know what consideration the Scottish Government gave to alternatives to this new line, such as strengthening the east coast line, as proposed by Sir Donald Miller, or sub-sea cables
“The Minister must tell us why he did not require undergrounding sections of the line in areas of high scenic value to be done in order to protect landscapes in sensitive locations. In Stirling for example, the new pylons will have a major impact on views to and from the Castle and the Wallace Monument.
“We also need to know what compensation will be paid for loss of trade or amenity for those adversely affected by the new pylons or by their construction.
“Few people would dispute the need to upgrade our grid infrastructure if we are to properly exploit Scotland’s potential in offshore renewables. Nevertheless today’s announcement will be greeted with dismay by residents in Stirling, Perthshire and the Highlands who have campaigned against the line, and also by environmental groups like the John Muir Trust, the National Trust for Scotland, the Ramblers Association, and many others.
"We finally have a decision but too much is still not clear.”
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Prescription charges: SNP and Labour failing to face up to financial reality -
Today the regulations are being laid for the third reduction of prescription charges.
Mary Scanlon MSP, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health & Wellbeing, says:
"Scottish Conservatives are clear on this issue – giving free prescriptions to those people who can well afford to pay for them is politically irresponsible and a drain on public resources at this time of huge financial challenges in the NHS. The Liberal Democrats sudden u-turn on the abolition of prescription charges is welcome, but their confusion has been unhelpful. They should have listened to us back in March last year.
"The young, the elderly, the frail, those on benefits and those with long term conditions are all already exempt. Using £40million of Scotland's health budget to extend free prescriptions means it cannot be spent elsewhere. 50% of the people are exempt. Indeed, 93% of all prescriptions are already free. Instead of free prescriptions for Alex Salmond and other politicians, we should have more Health Visitors for Scotland's children.
“Once again the Conservatives lead the opposition in the Scottish Parliament. Labour needs to show some guts for a change and behave responsibly. Both Labour and the SNP are failing to face up to financial reality. In these difficult economic times we have to make tough decisions and prioritise what we need most. Free prescriptions for people who can afford them are not a priority and we will be tabling a motion to annul this regulation.” |
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Annabel Goldie New Year Message: 2010 is a year which can transform our country -
Annabel Goldie MSP, Scottish Conservative Leader, has used her New Year Message to call for 2010 to be a year of change in Scotland and in Britain.
Below is Annabel Goldie’s message:
 2010 will be a year for change in Scotland and Britain. A British General Election has to take place in the next few months and that election gives people the opportunity for a fresh start. The choice is between a strong and united Conservative Party under David Cameron or this tired and failing Labour Government.
I want the people of Scotland to play their part in bringing about the change Britain so desperately needs. That We need to start tackling the country’s enormous national debt, we need to restore people’s trust in politics and politicians, we need to fix our broken society, raise standards in our schools, improve our health service and get people back into work. We need to elect Conservative MPs in Scotland to ensure we have as strong and stable Government at Westminster, able to get on with the job of sorting out Labour’s mess.
In Scotland the Conservatives have a really good chance in our eleven target seats. Voters know that this British General Election is a two horse race between David Cameron’s Conservatives and Labour. Voters know that the only way of getting rid of this Labour Government is to vote Conservative. Voters know that voting Conservative in Scotland is no longer a wasted vote.
I know we have a huge task ahead of us, but I also know people are listening to us again. Our achievements here in the Scottish Parliament have shown that our priorities are the people's priorities - more police on the beat, lower business rates for our smallest firms, a new national drugs strategy, a town centre regeneration fund.
And at a UK level, it is David Cameron who has shown the leadership on the big issues of 2009. So when the day comes to decide who should pick up the pieces of Labour's recession, Labour's debt mountain and Labour's jobs crisis, there are only two choices, and only one choice which will deliver a change.
2010 is a year which can transform our country. 2010 is the year for change. |
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Gordon Brown's debt. Hasn't it grown? -
Gordon Brown's debt. Hasn't it grown?
£23,000 – What every man, woman and child now owes in Gordon Brown’s Britain
Conservatives have launched a new poster highlighting the £6,000 rise in national debt for every person in the past year. Everyone in the UK now owes £23,000 – up from £17,000 a year ago.
Speaking as she unveiled the poster in Edinburgh today, Annabel Goldie MSP, Scottish Conservative Leader, said:
"For over a year the Conservatives have said that the national debt is crucial to turning round the economy. Now everyone agrees.
“We made a huge deal of it with the baby poster we all remember.
“But since then it's got worse, and the Government still has no credible plan to deal with it.
“It will be £23,000 for everyone in our country - every man, woman and child. That's £6000 more than this time last year.
“And if we don't deal with it – which is the Labour approach - it will mean higher taxes and higher interest rates for everyone."
In response to the Chancellor’s Pre-budget report, George Osborne MP, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, said:
“The message to aspiring families from these tax changes is pretty clear. If you want to get on in life, if you want to own your own home, if you want to save for a pension or leave something to your children, then the Labour Party is not for you anymore.”
The Debt Facts
Every child will be born owing £23,000 in debt. Net government debt is projected to grow to £1,473,000,000,000 – almost £1.5 trillion – by 2014-15.
This is £6,000 more than a year ago. At the PBR last year, debt was forecast to rise to £1 trillion, or £17,000 per person.
Just to pay the interest on that £23,000 debt will cost everyone over £1000 per year. The cost of servicing government debt is predicted to rise to £63.7 billion by 2013, or £1,037 per person.
This year alone, Labour will add £2,900 to the debt of every child. Government borrowing this year is £178 billion[iii], or £2,900 in extra debt per person.
What you could buy with the interest on Labour’s debt.
If Britain wasn’t going to spend £63.7 billion a year on debt interest, we could:
· Abolish fuel duty, inheritance tax, and stamp duty or
· Abolish council tax or
· Pay for 1.5 million extra police officers or
· Pay for 1.6 million extra teachers or
· Pay for 1.9 million extra nurses or
· Cut the basic rate of income tax by over 13p.
Britain will spend more than twice as much next year paying the interest on Labour’s debt than on tax credits. The total budget for tax credits in 2010-11 will be £22.8 billion.
Britain will spend more than four times as much next year paying the interest on Labour’s debt than on the Olympics. The total budget for the Olympics is £9.35 billion. |
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It is time Salmond faced up to reality -
It’s time Salmond faced up to reality
Alex Salmond is the only politician left in Britain who refuses to face up to the fact that cuts have to happen to pay off Labour’s debt.
At FMQs today, Annabel Goldie MSP, Scottish Conservative Leader, asked what the First Minister was going to do about the £800 million reduction in the Scottish budget. Yet again there was no answer.
Annabel Goldie MSP says:
“Given the number of people in Scotland who work in our health service, our schools and other essential public services, Labour’s tax on jobs will rip an estimated £200 million out of Scotland’s public sector – a third of that could hit the NHS alone.
“Since last April I have repeatedly challenged the First Minister to confront reality and tell us precisely what he will do.
“Scottish Conservatives have already identified hundreds of millions of pounds of savings which could be made and the First Minister has disagreed with every one of our proposals.
“Labour has brought us to the brink of bankruptcy but doing nothing is not an option. Living in denial is not an option. Saying all will be well in an independent Scotland is not an option.
“Alex Salmond is the only politician left who is refusing to admit cuts are coming. He needs to be honest with the Scottish people and tell us where the cuts will be made and where the savings will come from.”
The Scottish Conservatives have identified the following estimated annual savings:
Scottish Water: £150million a year - opposed by SNP and Labour
[Scottish Parliament debate 21/02/2008]
Universal free prescription: £40million a year - opposed by SNP, Labour and Lib Dems
[Health Committee vote 18/03/2009]
Abolishing the Graduate Endowment: £20million a year - opposed by SNP and Lib Dems
[Bill passed in Parliament 28/02/2008]
Free school meals: £40million a year - opposed by SNP and Labour
[Scottish Parliament SSI vote, 27/11/2008]
Total: £250,000,000 a year
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Drug dependent prisoners: Proportion more than doubles in just three years -
Drug dependent prisoners: Proportion more than doubles in just three years
New figures show that 75% of all prisoners are estimated to have drug dependency issues, up from 34% just three years ago.
John Lamont MSP, Shadow Minister for Community Safety, says:
“These figures are deeply depressing, but not at all surprising, especially when coupled with the rise in the number of drugs actually found in Scottish prisons, which I revealed a few weeks ago. If the number of drug dependent prisoners has really doubled in the space of a few years, then it proves the need for a entirely new national drugs strategy focussing on recovery, which Scottish Conservatives won as a concession in the 2008 budget.
“We should be helping prisoners get off drugs, rather than providing an environment for drugs to flourish. We must work harder to help addicts recover and send them on the path to abstinence.
“That is why we must have drug free wings in every institution where prisoners who want to come off drugs can be removed from the availability and the temptation of drugs. If they stay clean they should be given privileges. If they test positive, then they are removed from the drugs free wing and the privileges are withdrawn. The sanction for anyone in an open prison testing positive should be return to a closed jail.
“Robust measures must also be applied to anyone supplying drugs to prisoners. Visiting privileges should be withdrawn and in persistent cases criminal charges brought. We would also consider prison visits taking place behind glass screens to ensure that there is no contact between prisoners and their visitors and therefore deny them the opportunity of passing over drugs.
“The benefits to society will be great if we find the political will to take this task on. Lower re-offending, less crime and a safer prison environment. It will be good for addicts, good for their families and good for society as a whole because so much crime in Scotland is fuelled by drugs.
“The SNP Government has received a lengthy period of grace on this issue. Figures like these prove yet again that the period of grace is well and truly up. Action is needed and it is needed now.”
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Salmond wastes taxpayers money on energy report that omits nuclear power -
Salmond wastes taxpayers’ money on energy report that omits nuclear power
A report commissioned by the Scottish Government using taxpayers’ money has not included nuclear power as an option in Scotland’s future energy mix. This is despite the authors of the report making clear they believe nuclear power has a big part to play in the wider European market.
Gavin Brown MSP, Shadow Minister for Energy, says:
"Why has taxpayers’ money has been wasted on a report which was hamstrung from day one and not allowed to examine all the options? The report itself makes clear the SNP’s blinkered energy policy meant nuclear power was not considered, yet the authors of the report made clear their belief that ‘nuclear power will continue to play a role in the wider European market’.
"These are wise words and Alex Salmond's own Council of Economic Advisers has constantly warned that Scotland needs to consider all types of energy for the future.
"It is the SNP’s blinkered dogma which is threatening to turn out the lights across Scotland by refusing to consider continued nuclear power as part of the energy mix. If the SNP has its way, Scotland might go from being a net exporter of electricity to a net importer, dependent on nuclear power from across the border. This report is sad proof the SNP will always put political dogma ahead of what's best for Scotland."
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Conservative pressure brings success for rural broadband users -
There was success for rural broadband users after Murdo Fraser MSP, Scottish Conservative Deputy Leader, held a Members Debate in the Scottish Parliament tonight (9 December) on his motion 'Rural Broadband for Scotland'.
Pressure from the Scottish Conservatives paid off after the Scottish Government announced upgrades for 71 telephone exchanges in rural areas across Scotland.
Speaking in the Chamber, Murdo Fraser says (check against delivery):
“As set out in the motion, good quality broadband is essential in today’s Scotland. We use the internet to connect with family and friends, to do business and it is an important educational tool and online resource.
“I fear that rural Scotland has been short changed and there is no better way to outline the frustrations and problems that my constituents have to deal with then to quote their own words. A resident in Highland Perthshire emailed me the following: We do our bit for tourism by letting a farmhouse for high quality self-catering holidays and are greatly hindered by the slowness of the broadband speeds. When they talk about 8Mb/s being slow they should try our 0.5mb/s. The quality of the lines to the exchange and the type of exchange itself needs to be upgraded.
“One constituent near Kirriemuir in the Angus Glens wrote to me saying: There is an absolute ground swell of people - ordinary people, not business - who are demanding better quality broadband – and this won’t be stopped. Several local people drive regularly 50 miles or more to receive and send material from Dundee. How do you send fine architectural drawings on the facilities BT gives us here?
The Session House in Kirkmichael in rural Perthshire serves as an important community centre as well as providing distance learning courses from Perth College, so access to broadband is essential. They had access through ISDN, but this was withdrawn and due to the exchange being full they could not access broadband. They wrote to the Chairman of BT, saying: We have been left high and dry. We have no internet connection and are unable to conduct our day-to-day activities.
“For those more than 5km from an exchange, the Scottish Government provides a service through Avanti on a wireless basis. But there are real problems with the speed, reliability and cost of this.
“It is not right that the majority of Scotland enjoys high levels of broadband availability and our cities are seeing even faster and faster services while rural parts of Scotland have been left completely behind and unable to obtain a service.
“It is extremely frustrating for individuals and businesses in Angus, Perthshire and across Scotland that they cannot get broadband connectivity at all and it is holding businesses and rural communities back. Already there is a two-tier communication system in Scotland and every year it seems that we are seeing an even larger gulf in technology being offered to the cities compared to rural areas. We want to see vibrant rural communities, we want to see people able to work from home to meet our climate change obligations, but it is not going to happen without better broadband.
“In September 2009 it was announced with great fanfare that Broadband Enabling Technology (BET), which allows homes that are currently too far away from their local exchange to receive a broadband service, has had a successful trial in the Highlands. It is planned that more trials will take place in Scotland.
“While I welcome the commitment to upgrade some exchanges and further trials of BET, I am concerned that there is no long-term solution at present for our rural communities. It is clear from speaking to many people who signed up to Avanti that this has not solved the problem of enabling remote and rural areas to adequate broadband.
“In summary, inadequate broadband for rural Scotland is a social injustice and it must end. As we enter the season of goodwill it is only right that the SNP Government give rural and remote Scotland some early Christmas cheer and a commitment to much improved broadband connectivity for households and businesses. However, the investment has to make a real change and improvement.”
Ends
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FOI extension could help get to the bottom of class size row -
FOI extension could help get to the bottom of class size row
The Scottish Government is to consult on whether to extend the Freedom of Information Act to cover a wide range of bodies who deliver public services in Scotland.
David McLetchie MSP, Scottish Conservative Chief Whip, says:
"As Scotland's 32 local authorities are covered by the Act, then their umbrella body CoSLA should be as well.
"CoSLA is a partner in the Concordat which is the political foundation for delivery of key public services in Scotland. This should be subject to proper public and parliamentary scrutiny.
“For example, if CoSLA was included, then we might be able to get to the bottom of the class size row and whether Parliament was misled by Alex Salmond. The voters have a right to know who knew what and when, and whether Alex Salmond's claim of ignorance that his flagship policy was undeliverable within the lifetime of this parliament really holds water.
"Full details of all the CoSLA and Scottish Government discussions and correspondence on class sizes should be published immediately." |
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Fraser: SNPs attempts to put politics before education is latest embarrassing rebuff for Salmond -
Fraser: SNP's attempts to put politics before education is latest embarrassing rebuff for Salmond
The SNP is putting politics ahead of education after it emerged that Scottish Government Ministers wrote to every local authority urging them to make St Andrew’s Day a school holiday.
Murdo Fraser MSP, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education & Lifelong Learning, says:
"Scottish Conservatives have always believed that businesses or institutions should have the option of a St Andrew's Day holiday, but only in exchange for another day at a different time of year. We would not want to see our youngsters lose another valuable day of school, which is why it is bitterly ironic that this news leaks out at a time when the SNP is publishing a pamphlet designed to combat school absences.
"This is the latest embarrassing rebuff for Alex Salmond's SNP Government. We know the SNP want to politicise everything from Scottish history to St Andrew's Day to Christmas. This was a blatant attempt to put politics before education but the SNP has found that Scotland's local authorities are unwilling to play ball." |
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Drug dependent prisoners: Proportion more than doubles in just three years -
Drug dependent prisoners: Proportion more than doubles in just three years
New figures show that 75% of all prisoners are estimated to have drug dependency issues, up from 34% just three years ago.
John Lamont MSP, Shadow Minister for Community Safety, says:
“These figures are deeply depressing, but not at all surprising, especially when coupled with the rise in the number of drugs actually found in Scottish prisons, which I revealed a few weeks ago. If the number of drug dependent prisoners has really doubled in the space of a few years, then it proves the need for a entirely new national drugs strategy focussing on recovery, which Scottish Conservatives won as a concession in the 2008 budget.
“We should be helping prisoners get off drugs, rather than providing an environment for drugs to flourish. We must work harder to help addicts recover and send them on the path to abstinence.
“That is why we must have drug free wings in every institution where prisoners who want to come off drugs can be removed from the availability and the temptation of drugs. If they stay clean they should be given privileges. If they test positive, then they are removed from the drugs free wing and the privileges are withdrawn. The sanction for anyone in an open prison testing positive should be return to a closed jail.
“Robust measures must also be applied to anyone supplying drugs to prisoners. Visiting privileges should be withdrawn and in persistent cases criminal charges brought. We would also consider prison visits taking place behind glass screens to ensure that there is no contact between prisoners and their visitors and therefore deny them the opportunity of passing over drugs.
“The benefits to society will be great if we find the political will to take this task on. Lower re-offending, less crime and a safer prison environment. It will be good for addicts, good for their families and good for society as a whole because so much crime in Scotland is fuelled by drugs.
“The SNP Government has received a lengthy period of grace on this issue. Figures like these prove yet again that the period of grace is well and truly up. Action is needed and it is needed now.”
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Parents expect urgent action on truancy -
Parents expect urgent action on truancy
The School Attendance and Absence 2008/09 statistics have been published today.
Liz Smith MSP, Shadow Minister for Children, Schools & Skills, said:
"There has been a marginal improvement in the average attendance rate, but a million days are still being lost to truancy in our schools and half a million days because of unauthorised absences. Each day around 530 pupils are temporarily excluded.
“This is not good enough, especially when we know the majority of these pupils are sent home with nothing to do. It is clear more radical measures are needed to improve school discipline and that does not include a parenting guide pamphlet from Keith Brown.
"When it comes to persistently unruly pupils, we need to take them out of mainstream education and teach them in separate Second Chance Centres until they know how to behave.
“Mike Russell has called for these Second Chance Centres before. He clearly believes, as do we, that power in education should be transferred to the school and that we need a whole new debate on education in Scotland. Discipline must be at the forefront of that debate
“There is a marked decrease in attendance from S1 to S4, which is why more vocational and extra curricular opportunities are needed for those pupils who do not wish to focus on an entirely academic course. It is vital they do not become disengaged from their school.
“Until we see radical measures like these, the SNP will continue to fail Scotland’s schools. Mike Russell has shown in the past he has an open mind – it is vital he is not gagged by Alex Salmond.” |
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Fraser: Independent review of Higher Education needed to address funding gap -
Fraser: Independent review of Higher Education needed to address funding gap
The latest Attainment in Higher Education and Destinations of Leavers statistics have been published.
Murdo Fraser MSP, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education & Lifelong Learning, says:
“Whilst we have seen an increase in the number of qualified graduates from Scottish institutions there are major concerns about the future funding of institutions in Scotland.
“With the abolition of the graduate endowment, and the advent of top-up fees south of the border, a ‘funding gap’ for Scottish Universities could mean that they potentially find it very difficult to compete in terms of research, resources & even staff; losing some of their best academics to better funded institutions.
“Institutions in Scotland could be forced to recruit increasing numbers of international students in order to fund this monetary gap. We are already seeing this, with the number of qualifications obtained by international students rising by over 10% in the past year.
“More and more people are now backing the call I first made in August 2007 for an independent review of Higher Education. With figures like these, such a review is essential.” |
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Salmonds obsession with independence: Now he’s trying to politicise Christmas -
Alex Salmond’s obsession with independence has extended to him trying to politicise Christmas.
Speaking after the First Minister unveiled his 2009 Christmas card (entitled 'A New Journey'), David McLetchie MSP, Scottish Conservative Chief Whip, says:
"Alex Salmond is trying to politicise Christmas, having already attempted to politicise the Saltire, Scotland's national days and our children's education. His obsession with independence is blinding him to reality.
“He should get on with what he was elected to do, which is improving our schools and hospitals, and ditch these separatist stunts. For the overwhelming majority of Scots Alex Salmond's so-called 'journey to independence' is a road to nowhere." |
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Record drug treatment funding crucial to restoring broken lives -
The Scottish Government has announced a record £28.6 million funding for drug treatment services this year.
Annabel Goldie MSP, Scottish Conservative Leader, says:
"Scottish Conservatives drove home the delivery of a National Drugs Strategy, one that focuses on recovery. Scotland is still in the grip of the disaster of drugs abuse and we warmly welcome this increased package of funding for drug treatment services.
"The Auditor General’s horrific report into drug and alcohol services earlier this year was further evidence of the dire straits we find ourselves in. As Home Office figures have shown, and as the Community Safety Minister himself said today, every £1 spent on treating addicts saves nearly £10 in other budgets. It was this statistic which Scottish Conservatives used so effectively in the 2007 election.
“We should be investing money in restoring broken lives and in turn freeing up money for other essential services. We have to expand the range of rehabilitation services on offer and move to abstinence and recovery.
“Scotland has suffered for far too long from the effects of drugs abuse. It ruins lives, destroys families and scars communities. Scottish Conservatives are determined to make the difference.” |
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Class sizes inquiry: If SNP has nothing to fear it has nothing to hide -
A former Education Minister has written to the Convenor of the Education Committee asking for an inquiry after it emerged last week that SNP Ministers were aware their election pledge to reduce class sizes in Primary 1-3 was not possible to deliver in the lifetime of this Parliament.
Murdo Fraser MSP, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education & Lifelong Learning, says:
“If the SNP Government has nothing to fear it has nothing to hide. It is crucial for the SNP Government to immediately publish all advice given to Ministers on this issue to clarify who knew what and when.
“Many people will find it difficult to believe that Alex Salmond was unaware his own senior education advisers had made it clear the SNP’s flagship class size pledge could not be delivered in the lifetime of this parliament. Instead of hanging his former education secretary out to dry Alex Salmond should come clean and this inquiry is the ideal place to do just that.” |
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Salmond must not ignore education recommendations from his own group -
The second annual report from the Council of Economic Advisers has recommended that schools ‘need to have both the power and the incentives to remove ineffective teachers’ and they are ‘sceptical that the simple objective of reducing class size, as a
method of improving teaching, will prove sufficient’.
Liz Smith MSP, Shadow Minister for Children, Schools & Skills, says:
“We agree wholeheartedly with these views, from a group set up by Alex Salmond. They highlight the need for a wide-ranging debate on the future of education in Scotland, especially the need for schools to have more of a say in how they are run.
“At a time when the SNP is failing schools, at a time when it is in complete disarray over education and at a time when the problems with literacy and numeracy standards are giving serious cause for concern, a major improvement is desperately needed. Conservative calls for more rigorous testing of the basic skills by the time pupils have reached the end of primary 7 – backed by the Scottish Parliament – must be implemented immediately.
“The status quo is not an option. Alex Salmond is already trying to gag his new Education Secretary but he must not ignore these recommendations.” |
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Class sizes row – We need to clarify who knew what and when -
Pressure is growing on Alex Salmond’s SNP Government to publish all the minutes of the Cabinet meetings from the start of the SNP administration in 2007 until 5th September 2007, along with the full list of all the ministers who were sent the original advice from civil servants on class sizes. This comes off the back of Scottish Conservative calls yesterday for all advice given to Ministers on this issue to be published.
Murdo Fraser MSP, Scottish Conservative Deputy Leader, says:
“The pressure is growing on Alex Salmond. Many will find it inconceivable that he was unaware his own senior education advisers had made it crystal clear the SNP’s flagship class size pledge could not be delivered in the lifetime of this parliament.
“We still don’t know if Donald Henderson’s memo or advice was shown or mentioned to anyone in the First Minister’s team or other Cabinet Ministers. If Alex Salmond was truly ignorant then Scotland has a First Minister who has lost his grip on government.
“As I said on Thursday, it is crucial for the SNP Government to immediately publish all advice given to Ministers on this issue to clarify who knew what and when. Instead of hanging his former education secretary out to dry Alex Salmond should come clean.” |
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Economic cost of educational underachievement: We can’t postpone wide-ranging debate any longer -
Economic cost of educational underachievement: We can’t postpone wide-ranging debate any longer
 Conservatives have called for a wide-ranging debate on the future of education in Scotland. Today’s revelation that educational underachievement is costing the Scottish economy up to £2 billion a year means that debate cannot be postponed any longer.
Liz Smith MSP, Shadow Minister for Children, Schools & Skills, says:
“Mike Russell has a hugely difficult task in front of him. The SNP Government is not delivering for Scotland’s parents, pupils and teachers and today we see the economic damage caused by educational underachievement. We need a wide ranging debate on the future of education in Scotland and, in the absence of any initiative from the previous Education Secretary, Scottish Conservatives have taken the lead.
“Mike Russell clearly believes, as do we, that power in education should be transferred to the school and that we need a whole new debate on education in Scotland. We want headteachers to have far more of a say in how their schools are run, we want pupils to have more of a choice in learning vocational skills, we want continually disruptive pupils to be taught in ‘Second Chance Centres’ until they can behave and most importantly we want to improve standards of testing in reading, writing and maths in primary schools
“Until we see radical measures like these, the SNP will continue to fail Scotland’s schools. Mike Russell has shown in the past he has an open mind by supporting some of these measures – it is vital he is not gagged by Alex Salmond.” |
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Literacy key to life-skills: We need more rigorous testing before end of P7 -
The Scottish Parent Teacher Council has launched its Literacy Commission Report today, with a call for a ‘zero tolerance approach’ to poor literacy.
Liz Smith MSP, Shadow Minister for Children, Schools & Skills, says:
"Good literacy is the most important key to unlock so many other opportunities within education and the development of life-skills. There is unanimous agreement amongst parents, teachers and employers that we need to improve literacy – indeed it is a priority for the overwhelming majority across Scotland.
“We want to encourage schools to adopt proven methods which improve literacy, such as the phonetic spelling success of Clackmannanshire Council. There must be a greater focus on literacy in the early years.
“And most importantly, Conservative calls for more rigorous testing of the basic skills by the time pupils have reached the end of primary 7 – backed by the Scottish Parliament – must be implemented immediately.
“This report has made a welcome contribution to the debate and we hope the new Education Secretary will put into action much needed measures which have so far been neglected by the SNP Government.”
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Labour calls for £800million of extra spending in the past month -
In the last month Scottish Labour has made nearly £800million of extra spending commitments.
Derek Brownlee MSP, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Finance & Sustainable Growth, says:
“Not content with wrecking the public finances at Westminster, Labour now seems intent on doing the same thing at Holyrood. Demanding almost £800million of extra spending in the space of a month when the country is burdened by record levels of national debt because of the actions of the UK Labour Government is grossly irresponsible.
“In contrast, the Conservatives have demonstrated how it is possible to save money in the current budget. Facing up to the tough times ahead will require all parties to focus on saving money rather than spending money. We will judge the Scottish Government’s budget by how it faces up to the difficult times ahead. Labour has already flunked that test.” |
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48 hours in and Salmond already gagging new Education Secretary -
48 hours in and Salmond already gagging new Education Secretary
At First Minister’s Questions today, Alex Salmond gagged his Education Secretary on the debate about the future of education in Scotland. Mike Russell is on record saying ‘power in education [should] be transferred to the school and where power lies so should resource and the ability to decide’.
This is also the Conservative view but today Alex Salmond made clear he would have no truck with Conservative education policies.
Speaking after FMQs, Annabel Goldie MSP, Scottish Conservative Leader, says:
“48 hours into the job and Alex Salmond is already gagging his new Education Secretary. Three weeks ago he backed Fiona Hyslop. Then he sacked her. Today he backed her again.
“He told the Parliament that her replacement Mike Russell would never follow Conservative education policies and that a ‘national parliament must find the steps to apply policy’. He’s made it crystal clear that he believes in state control and the progressive thinking of his new appointment has already been consigned to history.
“Mike Russell has an enormous challenge ahead of him but he has already been gagged by the First Minister.” |
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SNP must immediately publish all advice to Ministers on class sizes -
SNP must immediately publish all advice to Ministers on class sizes
Alex Salmond has today been exposed as promising class sizes of 18 or fewer in P1-3 would be delivered in this parliament, months after senior ministerial advisers claimed it was not possible.
Murdo Fraser MSP, Scottish Conservative Deputy Leader, says:
“It is inconceivable that Alex Salmond was unaware that his own senior education advisers had made it crystal clear that the SNP’s flagship class size pledge could not be delivered in the lifetime of this parliament. This leads to the uncomfortable conclusion that either Alex Salmond knowingly mislead parliament or his own colleagues hid the truth.
“The SNP Government must immediately publish all advice given to Ministers on this issue to clarify who knew what and when. We have had enough of Alex Salmond shooting from the lip and expecting to get away with it.” |
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Hyslop sacking: A bad week for Salmond -
Fiona Hyslop has been sacked as Education Secretary.
Annabel Goldie MSP, Scottish Conservative Leader, says:
“I called on Alex Salmond to have a reshuffle some time ago and sack Fiona Hyslop three weeks ago. I am delighted that he has finally come to his senses and put Scotland's schoolchildren before his own narrow party political agenda. Fiona Hyslop has been an ineffectual Education Secretary. She lost the confidence of parents, teachers, local authorities and education experts. It was right that Alex Salmond followed my advice and sacked her.
“The last few weeks have been very poor for Alex Salmond. He was heavily involved in his party’s disastrous result in Glasgow North East, his Chief Whip Brian Adam challenged his authority over funding for Aberdeen City Council, he has been found out over poisonous SNP bloggers, his political judgement is being called into question over his obsession with his doomed independence bill and now his authority has been undermined as he had to be forced to sack Fiona Hyslop. He’ll be desperate for the Christmas break.
“I call on the new Education Secretary to look at Conservative plans to improve Scotland's schools and set up an independent commission to consider who should run Scotland’s schools. Successive Labour and SNP Governments have let our schoolchildren down. This cannot go on." |
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Double jeopardy: Disappointing fudge from Scottish Law Commission -
Double jeopardy: ‘Disappointing fudge’ from Scottish Law Commission
Conservatives will push for new law
The Scottish Law Commission has recommended the Scottish Government scraps the double jeopardy rule where there are instances of intimidation, jury rigging or a later admission of guilt, but has sat on the fence when it comes to the issue of new or compelling evidence.
Scottish Conservatives were the first party to advocate the scrapping of double jeopardy, back in February 2007.
John Lamont MSP, Shadow Minister for Community Safety, says:
“This is a disappointing fudge from the Scottish Law Commission. In recent years, forensic technology has advanced to such an extent that material not formally useable as evidence could now be pivotal.
“Before the last Holyrood elections, Scottish Conservatives were the first party to propose that in cases where new or compelling evidence becomes available, a retrial should be allowed at the discretion of the Lord Advocate and the Scottish Court of Criminal Appeal. This was roundly rejected by Labour and the Liberal Democrats at the time.
“At Westminster, the Conservatives welcomed a change in English law to allow suspects to be tried a second time for the same crime, if new evidence surfaces. That same change must now be made in Scotland and applied retrospectively.
“In those few cases where new evidence could convict a killer or rapist and deliver justice to families, it is a change well worth making. Today’s recommendations do not go far enough. However, the Scottish Parliament has been given a framework to move forwards and Scottish Conservative will push the SNP every step of the way to give victims of crime the justice they deserve.” |
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Serious questions for Salmond following SNP web smear campaign -
Serious questions for Salmond following SNP web smear campaign
Below is the letter that Annabel Goldie MSP, Scottish Conservative Leader, has today sent to Alex Salmond, following revelations that a senior aide to an SNP Minister was exposed as the mastermind behind an internet campaign to smear and spread lies about political opponents.
Dear First Minister,
I am sure you will be alarmed, although perhaps not surprised, by the revelations in the Sunday papers about the poison being spread by an SNP employee. The vile and abhorrent writing of Mr. MacLachlan do a gross disservice to Scottish politics at a time when politics itself is held in low public esteem.
The fact that this person works for one of your most senior Ministers make the issue extremely serious. I would urge you to firstly apologise on behalf of the SNP and your Minister for this behaviour.
Secondly I would like you to carry out a full internal SNP investigation to ascertain the full extent of this problem inside your party. As you know the vitriol from bloggers supporting your cause is extensive. When you have been warned about this in the past you have indicated that you have no control over it.
Now that claim has been exposed as a myth and actually the poison has been coming from a person who is employed by a senior SNP Minister.
Do you know to what extent the employees of other SNP politicians indulge in such disgraceful activity - if not what are you now doing about it?
Do they speak for the politicians who employ them and how much control do SNP politicians have over their staff?
Are they blogging at taxpayers' expense either in the Government or in the Parliament?
Will you issue a statement putting a stop to the poison being spread by your employees?
Will you be prepared to give evidence if any of this goes to court?
I hope you will deal with this situation in a quick and decisive way.
Yours,
Annabel Goldie MSP,
Scottish Conservative Leader |
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Salmonds obsession with independence will cast his judgement into doubt -
Alex Salmond has today launched his doomed referendum bill.
Annabel Goldie MSP, Scottish Conservative Leader, says:
“This referendum bill is a complete waste of public resources on something that the people of Scotland clearly don't want.
“Time after time the polls tell us the vast majority of Scots don't want independence. Time after time the First Minister has been told that his bill will not be passed by the Scottish Parliament.
“Unless he ditches his misguided attempts to hold a referendum then Alex Salmond's political judgement will come into serious question. His obsession with independence is blinding him to the priorities of the Scottish people.
“He should ditch this referendum bill, which the SNP say will cost £9 million, and get on with the job he was elected to do.” |
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2,000 fewer teachers than two years ago – Hapless Hyslop should hang her head in shame -
2,000 fewer teachers than two years ago – Hapless Hyslop should hang her head in shame
The latest Teachers in Scotland figures have been published, showing that there are 2,000 fewer teachers in Scotland than when the SNP took office.
Liz Smith MSP, Shadow Minister for Children, Schools & Skills, says:
“These latest statistics are seriously concerning, not just for the teaching profession and those aspiring to join it, but for parents and pupils the length and breadth of Scotland.
“Under Fiona Hyslop’s watch over 2,000 fewer teachers are now employed in Scotland. That is a shocking reflection of the SNP Government and its manifesto commitments on education have been completely torn to shreds.
“Workplace planning for teaching jobs can never be expected to work well when local authorities, many of which are geographically large and diverse, operate a centrally controlled recruitment policy that pays little heed to the needs of individual schools. A recent survey showed that 53% of head-teachers are very frustrated by the fact that they do not have sufficient freedom to take decisions on key issues like recruitment.
“The SNP Government has got its priorities all wrong. Instead of giving power back to headteachers to enable them to run their own school, they have been obsessed by trying to control education from the centre with the result that many teachers have found themselves caught in an employment trap.
“That is a completely unacceptable situation. It is not difficult to see what damaging effects this will have on those currently at college and university who are considering teaching as a career. Hapless Fiona Hyslop should hang her head in shame.” |
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Rise in prison population not an excuse for SNP to abolish short sentences -
Rise in prison population not an excuse for SNP to abolish short sentences
The latest Prison Population statistics have been published today, showing another rise in the number of criminals in Scottish prisons.
John Lamont MSP, Shadow Minister for Community Safety, says:
“This is a direct result of the soft-touch Scotland created by Labour and the Lib Dems and made far worse by the SNP. No doubt the SNP and Lib Dems will abuse these figures to argue their dangerous case that fewer criminals should be sent to prison. That is wrong and against the public interest.
“Prison numbers will only be properly cut when crime is cut. I see Kenny MacAskill is already using the figures to peddle his pet project of abolishing prison sentences of six months or less. These dangerous plans would be a green light for a whole host of criminals to simply carry on offending.
“Prison serves four important functions: to deter criminals, to protect the public, to punish and to rehabilitate. All four matter and we have to have the political will to make prison work.
“In the SNP's soft-touch Scotland, you have to be very unlucky to end up in jail. The prime duty of government is to protect the public. The SNP is guilty of a dereliction of that duty. Scotland is not safe in the SNP's hands.” |
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Aitken backs increase in minimum prison term for murder -
Aitken backs increase in minimum prison term for murder
Appeal court judges have increased the minimum prison term for murder.
Bill Aitken MSP, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Justice, says:
“Most Scots will think that the High Court has got this absolutely right. In some cases life should mean just that, namely that the murderer should end their days in jail.
“This sends out a much clearer message about the consequences of these crimes and will be of some comfort to the relatives of victims.”
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Abolishing short jail sentences will not make Scotland safer -
Abolishing short jail sentences will not make Scotland safer
SNP and Lib Dem plans to abolish short prison sentences are dangerous and will definitely not make Scotland’s streets safer.
 Bill Aitken MSP, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Justice, says:
“The SNP and Lib Dems do not realise there is already a presumption against short term prison sentences. Courts do everything possible to avoid them.
“These dangerous plans to abolish prison sentences of six months or less would be the green light for the fourth time drunk and disqualified driver. The get out of jail free card for the knife carrier, or the man guilty of domestic violence or perhaps the small time drug pusher – all with previous convictions. These plans allow the shoplifter appearing in Court for the 40th time to carry on thieving. These are the type of people who will receive sentences of six months or less at present.
“We need both a deterrent in sentencing and a recognition that sometimes communities need a break from the activities of such people, who require effective rehabilitation in prison. Do the SNP and Lib Dems seriously believe that these proposals will make Scotland safer?” |
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Use universal free prescription money to fund health visitors -
Use universal free prescription money to fund health visitors
The SNP Government should use the money saved for universal free prescriptions to improve the provision of health visitors across Scotland.
Speaking after FMQs today, Annabel Goldie MSP, Scottish Conservative Leader, says:
“We now know that once again, following my party’s lead in opposing universal free prescriptions, the Liberal Democrats have joined our ranks – Labour now needs to break its silence, clarify its position and justify itself as a party of opposition.
“At this time of crisis in our public finances - when delivering essential public services is proving hugely challenging - giving people like me and him free prescriptions is morally repugnant and politically irresponsible.
“Last week I raised with the First Minister the deeply disturbing issue of child malnutrition. One of the most important interventions for children at risk would be to increase health visitors.
“Isn’t supporting vulnerable children far more important than subsidising free prescriptions for me and the First Minister?
“If he loses the vote for that policy in this Parliament, the First Minister must commit to using the money saved to improve provision of health visitors across Scotland.” |
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Council Tax payers in the North East are set to lose out because of Lib Dem plans to push ahead with local income tax. -
Council Tax payers in the North East are set to lose out because of Lib Dem plans to push ahead with local income tax.
The Finance Secretary has confirmed that there will be no fundamental change to government funding for North East councils until ‘the way forward is clearer on the future local and national taxation system’. The Lib Dems want a local income tax introduced in the next parliament so it could be as long as six years before the issue of fairer funding for the North East is even considered.
Alex Johnstone, Scottish Conservative MSP for North East Scotland, says:
“I am outraged at this. The Lib Dems are holding the North East back and preventing a fairer funding settlement.
“It is a double whammy as not only would local income tax hit the North East hardest than the rest of the country, but the threat of it is stopping the issue of funding for the North East being addressed.
“The Lib Dems need to put the people first and ditch their local income tax plans. Once this happens, we can move forward. Until then, the Lib Dems are ripping off the North East.” |
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No to blanket minimum pricing: Labour backs long-term Conservative calls -
No to blanket minimum pricing: Labour backs long-term Conservative calls
The Scottish Labour Party have finally come off the fence and have announced they will not support the SNP’s plans of blanket minimum pricing for alcohol.
Murdo Fraser MSP, Scottish Conservative Deputy Leader, says:
 "They have dithered and delayed, but today's conversion from Scottish Labour is very welcome. If a final nail was required to be driven into the SNP's blanket minimum pricing coffin, then this was it. The SNP's plans are dead before the Alcohol Bill has even been published.
“The SNP's policy is probably illegal, penalises responsible drinkers and will cause immense damage to the Scotch whisky industry. Instead they must work with us and the other parties supporting measures on which we can all agree, like targeting tax increases on problem drinks such as alcopops and strong ciders.
“Many organisations, and now the Scottish Labour Party, have joined the Conservatives and blown these plans apart at the seams. Blanket minimum pricing has been thoroughly discredited, even before Nicola Sturgeon launches her Bill.”
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SNP must stop politicising our history -
SNP must stop politicising our history
Scottish Conservatives are warning the SNP Government not to politicise the teaching of Scottish history in schools, a subject which in itself deserves far more time devoted to it than at present.
Speaking in this afternoon’s debate on Learning About Scotland and its History, Murdo Fraser MSP, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education & Lifelong Learning, says (check against delivery):
“Presiding Officer, I am sure one thing that we can all agree about is that there is far too much ignorance among young people about our history. This was highlighted recently when the Scottish Veteran’s Charity, Erskine, carried out a survey of children’s knowledge of the Second World War. One in twenty thought Adolf Hitler was a coach of the German football team while one in twenty also said that the Holocaust was a celebration of the end of the war. One in twelve believe the Blitz was a European clean up operation following the Second World War, and one in ten thought the SS stood for Enid Blyton’s Secret Seven.
“When we last debated the subject in January last year, I mentioned some other survey results were shown that 37% of young Scots thought we became part of the United Kingdom because we were conquered by England whilst 28% thought it was the result of the Referendum. 41% thought the Battle of Culloden was a conflict between a wholly Scottish and wholly English Armies. So there is much to be done and we support the Government’s intention to strengthen the teaching of Scottish History in the School Curriculum.
“Presiding Officer, as someone who is passionate about Scottish History, I do welcome the increased public interest in the subject. The BBC’s History of Scotland series presented by Neil Oliver has certainly generated debate with Professor Tom Devine wading in with his criticisms. Whilst he may be right to say it is a rather superficial treatment of the subject nonetheless we are seeing Scottish History on prime time television and I congratulate the BBC for their scheduling.
“The Government’s motion welcomes the Scotland’s History online website. It is certainly a valuable resource and a great deal of information, but I would have to question some of the entries, or indeed the omission of certain key and relevant facts. The website is intended to teach about Scottish History which is inexorably linked to the history of England, Wales, Ireland and France, but there is little mention of what is happening elsewhere despite developments in other countries being highly relevant. For example, in the section on the Reformation, there is reference to Martin Luther and the French Regency in Scotland, but no mention of the Reformation in England and how significant a part that this played, the importance of which is highlighted in Harry Reid’s excellent new book “Reformation, the Dangerous Birth of the Modern World”. Moreover, the section on devolution reads more like a party manifesto than an objective historical analysis.
“The Scottish Government has form for promoting a Nationalist Agenda in everything that it does and we have to be extra careful to ensure that there is no attempt to distort Scottish History, In particular historical resources made available to school children should not be used as a vehicle for propaganda. Concerns were recently raised about the funding of trips by school parties to three historic sites namely the battlefields of Bannockburn and Culloden and Robert Burns’ birthplace.
“I should say for the record I have no problem with encouraging school children to visit historic sites. The new Visitors Centre at Culloden which I have not yet had the opportunity to see is by all accounts excellent and gives a balanced view of the battle. The centre at Bannockburn is in need of a facelift and I hope that today the Scottish Government will look at assisting this as we approach the 700th Anniversary of battle. However, I would have to question the focus this initiative given that two out of three of the sites selected have been the scenes of conflict which involved our Southern neighbours although we know there were as many Scots supporting the Hanoverians at Culloden as the Jacobites.
“Why restrict the initiative to these three sites? Why not visit the David Livingstone Centre to learn about this great Scottish Missionary and explorer who led the campaign against the Slave Trade? Why not visit the People’s Palace in Glasgow to learn about the Social History of Scotland? Why not visit the Museum of Flight in East Lothian to learn about the Scots role in the Battle of Britain? Why so restrictive a choice?
“Again, the SNP Government’s selective view of history came to light when it was revealed in a Parliamentary answer to me earlier this year that there were no plans to mark the 450th Anniversary of the Scottish Reformation which falls in 2010. It is without doubt that the Reformation was a hugely significant event in Scottish History, not just in religious terms but also in that it marked the point that Scotland as a nation turned increasingly away from our historic links with France and Continental Europe and increasingly towards links with Protestant England – perhaps it is for this reason that the SNP are so uncomfortable with it. Historians like Harry Reid and Tom Devine have also criticised the SNP Government, so keen to celebrate other anniversaries like those associated with Burns, for not being prepared to mark the Reformation. We have learnt that even the Edinburgh Hogmanay celebrations are to focus on the 450th Anniversary of the Reformation, with a series of events and activities. Even now, it is not too late for the Scottish Government to join the party and I would hope that they would seize this opportunity.
“My amendment today regrets any attempts to promote a Nationalist Agenda through the use of public resources and the teaching of history. I would hope that there are in fact no such attempts, although there is some evidence to the contrary. It is vital that our children have a balanced and objective view of history that is not dominated by any one political view point. For that reason, I hope that the Scottish Government will support our amendment and put the matter beyond any doubt and I have pleasure in moving the amendment in my name.” |
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School leavers need more diverse opportunities -
School leavers need more diverse opportunities
The latest figures showing the destinations for leavers from Scottish schools have been published.
Liz Smith MSP, Shadow Minister for Children, Schools & Skills, says:
“Over 13% of all school leavers are not moving onto further education, training or some form of employment. This increased figure is another step in the wrong direction and another result of Labour's recession.
“We have known for some time that we need to raise standards in Scottish education and specifically within the area of better vocational training. The SNP Government must take urgent action to deliver more diverse opportunities for school leavers, opportunities that are fully consistent with their individual needs and aspirations.
"No youngster should feel as if there are no options available to them, let alone this number of all school leavers. It is also essential that we declutter the school examination system, making it more relevant to the needs of different pupils and ensuring that it is more rigorous in the testing of basic skills, especially the 3Rs. I would also hope that our calls for an independent review of higher education might help widen access and give people the opportunities they are currently being denied." |
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Lib Dems u-turn on prescription charges -
Lib Dems u-turn on prescription charges
The Liberal Democrats have u-turned on prescription charges, calling for the SNP to rethink the abolition of prescription charges. This comes just months after the Liberal Democrats voted with Labour and the SNP to reduce prescription charges as part of the SNP's plans to abolish them entirely, particularly for those who can afford to pay. Only the Scottish Conservatives stood firm.
Annabel Goldie MSP, Scottish Conservative Leader, says:
"Scottish Conservatives were clear from the start – giving free prescriptions to those people who can well afford to pay for them is morally wrong, politically irresponsible and a drain on public resources at this time of huge financial challenges in the NHS. The Liberal Democrats sudden u-turn on the abolition of prescription charges comes just months after they supported cuts in prescription charges in the Scottish Parliament. Indeed, Ross Finnie himself supported the cuts on the Health Committee.
“While their support for the Conservative position is welcome, their confusion has been unhelpful. They should have listened to us back in March.
"Using £40m per annum of the Scottish Government’s health budget for universal free prescriptions is not the best allocation of resources. 50% of the people are exempt. The young, the elderly, the frail, those on benefits and those with long term conditions are all already exempt. Indeed, 93% of all prescriptions are already free.
“Once again the Conservatives lead the opposition in the Scottish Parliament. Labour now needs to demonstrate political responsibility and oppose universal free prescription charges.” |
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Smith: Borrowing more cash won t solve teacher job shortage -
Smith: Borrowing more cash won’t solve teacher job shortage
The Scottish Government has announced that local authorities are being allowed to borrow up to £10million to create jobs for new teachers.
Liz Smith MSP, Shadow Minister for Children, Schools & Skills, says:
“Short term thinking is not the way forward in these difficult economic times. It is a panic measure from the SNP Government, already severely bruised from the constant criticism directed at hapless Fiona Hyslop. Why should Councils build up more debt persuading teachers to retire when budgets are already very tight, and will only get tighter?
"We need far more emphasis on removing the rigidities within the labour market for teachers, most especially the geographical immobility which reduces the numbers of teachers willing to work outside the main cities and central belt area, and the inflexibilities which headteachers face when they want to advertise for new jobs.
"Too often they are forced to adopt very tight timescales, which are set by local authorities for the main recruiting period in the early spring each year. They are also often forced to adopt council employment policies which might not suit the individual needs of every school in that council area. Scottish Conservatives believe headteachers should have more control over recruitment policy for their own school.
“We have seen tremendous improvements in the teacher training programme and we have some of the best probationers anywhere in the world. They deserve to find jobs but it is a disgrace that central government is having to resort to this measure as a way of sorting out a huge mess of its own making."
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Additions to Fixed Penalty Notice list will send out entirely the wrong message -
Additions to Fixed Penalty Notice list will send out entirely the wrong message
The Scottish Government has today published A Review of Fixed Penalty Notices for Anti-Social Behaviour.
John Lamont MSP, Shadow Minister for Community Safety, says:
“Fixed Penalty Notices can already be issued for riotous behaviour in a pub, vandalism, or being drunk in a public place in charge of a child. Anyone who exhibits this behaviour should be receiving a more severe punishment than the equivalent of a minor parking offence. SNP Ministers can add to this list at any time and Conservatives believe they must resist any further dumbing down of our justice system.
"I am therefore appalled at the suggestion in this report that we should include further crimes like assault, shoplifting, fireworks offences, street trading offences and cannabis possession on this list.
“Whilst reducing pressure on our police and criminal justice system is a laudable aim, it cannot be done for the convenience of the criminal or to massage crime statistics. If these perpetrators are not worried about the consequences, they will not be worried about their actions. We need to send out a much stronger message to discourage this behaviour and adding to the Fixed Penalty Notice list will not do that at all."
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The New Southern General – Glasgow’s Holyrood? -
The New Southern General – Glasgow’s Holyrood?
Parliamentary answer reveals timeline slip
Jackson Carlaw MSP has revealed the new Southern General Hospital, due to be completed by July 2014, may now not be fully complete until ‘the summer of 2016’.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon has admitted the new forecast for the completion of the main hospital has slipped to January 2015, with the entire project not being expected to be complete until the summer of 2016 – fully two years later than originally planned (see notes to editors).
Jackson Carlaw MSP, Shadow Minister for Public Health, who uncovered this fact in a parliamentary answer, says:
“The history of publicly financed building projects is not a happy one, with the Holyrood money pit being perhaps the most infamous example. The building of a new Southern General was only announced last year, but already we find that the timeline has slipped significantly.
“We are told that the project is still within budget, but with delays already coming to the fore and additional work being required surely it’s only a matter of time before the budget slips too?
“When the SNP first announced the building of a new Southern General it made great play of the fact it would be funded entirely by public finance. I questioned this at the time and already the cracks are beginning to appear. What price the new Southern General becoming Glasgow’s very own Holyrood building project? And all in Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon’s back yard too.
“The SNP Government must be sure to learn the lessons of Holyrood lest they end up repeating them.” |
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Terrible setback for Salmond and SNP on independence -
‘Terrible setback’ for Salmond and SNP on independence
A YouGov poll published today has dealt a devastating blow to Alex Salmond and the SNP. Independence is rejected by 57% to 29% and the issue of independence came sixth out of seven in terms of importance, behind issues like ‘reducing unemployment in Scotland’, ‘tackling the problem of drug abuse in Scotland’, ‘improving the quality of Scottish housing’, and ‘restoring the position of Scotland's historic banks’.
Annabel Goldie MSP, Scottish Conservative Leader, says:
"This is another terrible setback for Alex Salmond and the SNP. Mr Salmond should stop wasting millions of pounds of taxpayers' money on his obsession with an independence referendum, ditch his doomed bill and get on with the job people elected him to do.
"We are in the midst of a deep and difficult recession, Labour have destroyed the public finances and this SNP Government is failing to keep promise after promise on health, education and crime. It is time for Mr Salmond to abandon his extreme views on the constitution and move on. This poll backs up Conservative findings that people are not interested in independence but see the economy, defence, national debt and the public finances as amongst the top priorities in the British General Election.
"The SNP of course are irrelevant at the British General Election and Mr Salmond is not even standing. The Telegraph poll shows that only David Cameron's Conservatives can replace this tired and failing Labour Government and a vote for the SNP or the Liberal Democrats will only help Labour cling to power for another five years." |
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School leavers need more diverse opportunities -
School leavers need more diverse opportunities
The latest figures showing the destinations for leavers from Scottish schools have been published.
Liz Smith MSP, Shadow Minister for Children, Schools & Skills, says:
“Over 13% of all school leavers are not moving onto further education, training or some form of employment. This increased figure is another step in the wrong direction and another result of Labour's recession.
“We have known for some time that we need to raise standards in Scottish education and specifically within the area of better vocational training. The SNP Government must take urgent action to deliver more diverse opportunities for school leavers, opportunities that are fully consistent with their individual needs and aspirations.
"No youngster should feel as if there are no options available to them, let alone this number of all school leavers. It is also essential that we declutter the school examination system, making it more relevant to the needs of different pupils and ensuring that it is more rigorous in the testing of basic skills, especially the 3Rs. I would also hope that our calls for an independent review of higher education might help widen access and give people the opportunities they are currently being denied." |
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WSTA drive another nail into coffin of SNPs blanket minimum pricing -
WSTA drive another nail into coffin of SNP’s blanket minimum pricing
The Wine & Spirits Trade Association has today warned that the SNP Government's Alcohol Bill, which advocates blanket minimum pricing and is due this week, would boost English-based internet sales at the expense of Scottish retailers.
Murdo Fraser MSP, Scottish Conservative Deputy Leader, says:
“The SNP’s plans for blanket minimum pricing are falling apart at the seams. They are dead before the Alcohol Bill has even been published and the WSTA has driven another nail into the coffin. Just recently it was leaked that the SNP would not be making the preferred starting price public at this stage, further proof of how they know the argument is being lost.
“The SNP's policy is probably illegal, penalises responsible drinkers and will cause immense damage to the Scotch whisky industry. Instead they must work with us and the other parties supporting measures on which we can all agree, like targeting tax increases on problem drinks such as alcopops and strong ciders.
“Many organisations have joined the Conservatives and blown these plans apart at the seams. Blanket minimum pricing has been thoroughly discredited, even before the Bill is due.” |
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A&E waiting times on the rise -
A&E waiting times on the rise
Figures revealed in a written answer to Jackson Carlaw MSP show that average waiting times in A&E departments increased substantially last year, for the second year in a row under the SNP.
The median wait at A&E departments between 1 April and 30 June 2009 was 104 minutes, up from 99 mins in 2008-09 and 96 mins in 2007-08.
Last year’s upward trend was mirrored in all but one of Scotland’s mainland health boards, with patients in NHS Lothian being subjected to the longest median wait of 2 hours and 9 minutes.
In 1999, the first year of devolution, the median wait was just 70 mins. All health boards that published figures showed a significant upward trend since over the 10 year period (see notes).
Jackson Carlaw MSP, Shadow Minister for Public Health, says:
“Under the Lib/Lab Pact median A&E waiting times rocketed from 70 minutes to 105 minutes. Following an initial improvement under the SNP, median waits are heading skyward again, up from 96 minutes to 104 minutes.
“No matter how you look at these figures they do not reflect well on the health policies of any administration since the advent of devolution.
“I urge the Health Secretary to investigate what has led to these appalling figures before making clear what her Government intends to do to turn things around. As part of this I trust she will consider looking to other sectors – private, independent or voluntary – to see what they can do to lift the burden on NHS staff.
“One thing is for sure, this trend cannot be allowed to continue. Scottish patients have waited long enough.” |
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Smith: SNP cannot boast about school behaviour report -
Smith: SNP cannot boast about school behaviour report
The three-yearly Behaviour in Scottish School Research has been published, showing that almost a quarter of headteachers believe indiscipline or pupil violence has a substantial impact on the running of their schools. Amazingly, the SNP is presenting this as a success.
Liz Smith MSP, Shadow Minister for Children, Schools & Skills, says:
"Everyone knows that the vast majority of pupils across Scotland are a credit to both their parents and their teachers, but there is a small minority whose persistent bad behaviour makes life a misery for others. That minority is growing in size and now nearly a quarter of headteachers believe indiscipline has a major impact on our classrooms. Likewise, 15% of teachers are reporting that they are not confident of their own ability to deal with indiscipline so parents will be astonished to hear that Fiona Hyslop is boasting about the findings of this report.
“Indiscipline is a problem in far too many schools and that is the view of the vast majority of parents. These parents want the bullies taken out of our classrooms and they want headteachers to have the final say on whether a pupil should be excluded or not. They also want the number of assaults in Scotland’s schools to be published every year rather than just a three-yearly collection of opinion.
“The Scottish Conservatives want well-behaved pupils to be able get on with learning, and teachers to get on with teaching without the distraction of a few badly behaved pupils. That is why we want second chance centres which can deal with the persistent offenders and help them to refocus their lives.
“School discipline should be at the forefront of the education debate. As long as Fiona Hyslop and the SNP continue to trumpet these figures as some sort of success we will get nowhere. Parents, pupils and teachers deserve much better." |
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Milne: ARI shortcomings need to be tackled now -
Milne: ARI shortcomings need to be tackled now
The Healthcare Environment Inspectorate's second report into problems at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary has been published today. It has highlighted a range of issues that must be addressed, many relating to cleanliness and infection control
Dr Nanette Milne, Scottish Conservative MSP for North East Scotland, says:
“Hospitals have a duty of care and a duty to provide the best possible standard of service. It is extremely worrying that measures put in place by NHS Grampian after the last poor inspection report are apparently not being implemented on the ground. What kind of message does that send to the public?
“Someone must been held to account for these severe shortcomings. However, the priority must be for ARI to implement the findings of the Inspectorate as a matter of urgency. In addition, the electronic bed management pilot to fight infection must be rolled out as soon as possible along with greater use of the independent sector, which continues to be shunned by the SNP’s political dogma. It isn’t good enough.” |
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Target funding on key strategic routes to bring down road accidents -
Target funding on key strategic routes to bring down road accidents
The Reported Road Casualties Scotland 2008 figures have been published today. There has been an 8% increase in serious injuries on the roads and relative to England and Wales, Scotland's road casualty rate is 26% higher for fatalities.
Alex Johnstone MSP, Shadow Minister for Transport, says:
"The significantly higher fatality rate per population on Scotland's roads is extremely concerning and underlines the importance of continuing to invest in our road network. The previous Labour-Lib Dem Scottish Executive had a lamentable record when it came to upgrading our key trunk routes. It is vital that funding be targeted on those key strategic routes with the worst accident records." |
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Domestic abuse: No fear of the consequences means no deterrent for persistent offenders -
Domestic abuse: No fear of the consequences means no deterrent for persistent offenders
Figures showing domestic abuse recorded by the police 2008/9 have been published today. They show a rise in reported incidents from last year, along with a huge increase in incidents where the victim has previously suffered from domestic abuse.
Scottish Conservatives recently revealed that just one in ten people convicted of domestic abuse goes to jail.
John Lamont MSP, Shadow Minister for Community Safety, says:
“I am pleased more incidents are being reported but that is where the good news ends. Over two and half thousand young women under the age of 18 are now victims of domestic abuse in Scotland, and these are just the figures we know about.
“The number of incidents recorded where the victim had previously been subjected to domestic abuse rose by a staggering 39% in just one year. This is proof that those who carry out domestic violence are not being deterred by the consequences. When you consider that Scottish Conservatives revealed the other day barely one in ten convicted of domestic abuse actually get sent to jail, it is not surprising.
“These figures give us plenty to be concerned about. Domestic violence can affect anyone and in particular can traumatise any children who witness it. A huge number of domestic violence incidents are never even reported, which makes the situation even worse.
“We need to send out a much stronger message to those who commit domestic violence that it simply will not be tolerated. Based on these figures, there is a long way still to go." |
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Conservatives call for Perth incinerator to be scrapped -
Conservatives call for Perth incinerator to be scrapped
Murdo Fraser and Liz Smith, Scottish Conservative MSPs for Mid-Scotland & Fife, have been joined by Peter Lyburn, Conservative Candidate for Perth & North Perthshire in calling for the proposed incinerator in Perth city centre to be scrapped.
The MSPs will be attending Perth & Kinross Council's Development Control Committee Meeting tomorrow, following the objection formally submitted by SEPA last week
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Murdo Fraser MSP says:
“Perth is a pleasant city set in beautiful Perthshire. To have a toxic incinerator looming over the over city and pumping out fumes all day long will destroy this city’s reputation and beauty. We cannot have this incinerator casting a dark shadow over the city and dominating the skyline.
“The SNP/Liberal Democrat Council is guilty of allowing this farce to go on for so long and is morally corrupt if it allows this incinerator to be built."
Liz Smith MSP says:
"This is an unacceptable situation. Apart from the prospect of an appalling eyesore visible across most of Perth’s skyline and the inevitable noise pollution, the entire process has been fraught with a catalogue of errors in terms of the planning process. The Head of Planning has now been forced to put on public record the list of the errors made by the Planning Department of Perth & Kinross Council and it does not make happy reading.
"What worries me most is the lack of transparency in the planning process, particularly in terms of a lack of adequate and accurate information being presented to the public; a point which was central to the objections raised by SEPA ten days ago. It is little wonder that the public are angry and feel betrayed by the planning officers in Perth & Kinross Council."
Peter Lyburn, Conservative candidate for Perth & North Perthshire says
"I have canvassed thousands of people in Perth and it is clear that residents do not want this incinerator. We must stand up for Perth and reject this incinerator proposal outright.
“All the hard work to make the Fair City a destination for the arts and tourism will be destroyed in an instant if this incinerator is erected. It will be a disaster for Perth and residents do not want this monstrosity here.
"The SNP/Lib Dem Council should not have allowed this proposal to get this far and this sorry saga must end today."
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Smith: Criminal staff unfit for teaching must face strongest possible action -
Smith: Criminal staff unfit for teaching must face strongest possible action
More than 80 school staff have been allowed to continue working with children in the past two years, despite being convicted of crimes such as assault and drug abuse.
Liz Smith MSP, Shadow Minister for Children, Schools & Skills, says:
"Many parents will be disturbed to hear this revelation that some teachers still working in our classrooms have been guilty of criminal offences . While the number is very small, it is a matter of concern for all of us.
“The GTC is clearly investigating some of the cases and they must reassure the public that the strongest possible action will be taken if any one individual is deemed unfit to be a teacher. The GTC is a highly professional body which takes the code of conduct amongst the teaching profession extremely seriously and I am sure it will pursue these concerns vigorously." |
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Positive proposals to produce more affordable houses -
The SNP Government wants to create a National Housing Trust, according to reports today. The aim of the proposed NHT would be to buy unsold new homes in Scotland and then rent them out to middle or low income families who don’t qualify for help from a conventional housing association and can’t afford to rent in the private sector.
Jamie McGrigor MSP, Shadow Minister for Housing, says:
“The SNP must resist rushing through a secret deal to create another quango.
“We want them to look at all the options, especially the greater use of local housing associations close to the community. The Scottish Government must support the building of more affordable homes through these housing associations by increasing housing association grants to their former levels, by speeding up the planning system and by encouraging local authorities to transfer their housing stock to local housing associations.
“These are positive proposals that would produce more affordable houses. We must also resist a return to the failed policies of the past where councils were encouraged to build new council houses.” |
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School build chaos: Parents, pupils and teachers are rightly furious with SNP -
According to reports, a confidential document states one in five of Scotland’s 2,000 primary schools needs to be rebuilt but only a handful will actually be upgraded when the SNP Government announces the next round of the school-building programme.
Liz Smith MSP, Shadow Minister for Children, Schools & Skills, says:
"Too many schools are past their sell-by date and the scale of the primary school problem is particularly worrying. I fully appreciate that there are budget constraints but we need an assurance from the SNP that the criteria for deciding the priorities are both clear and transparent. That is not the case just now.
"There is confusion over who exactly decides over which schools are most in need – is it the Scottish Government or local authorities?
"Of course, part of the issue for councils was the delay in knowing what the terms of the Scottish Futures Trust would be. This meant some of them held off with new building decisions and that is why the scale of this problem is worse than it might have been.
“As with so many other areas of SNP education policy there has been confusion and a complete lack of transparency. Parents, pupils and teachers are rightly furious about this as they deserve better." |
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Assessors reports show real need for more rigorous literacy and numeracy testing -
Assessors’ reports published by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) reveal some exam candidates didn’t understand basic instructions such as ‘describe’ and ‘explain’, and others who couldn’t convert minutes into hours.
Liz Smith MSP, Shadow Minister for Children, Schools & Skills, says:
“There is huge concern about a lack of basic literacy and numeracy standards in Scotland's schools. Only 30% of Scottish S2 pupils are reaching satisfactory standards in maths and these assessor’s reports highlight some real problems with basic literary tasks.
“Businesses have concerns that people coming into the employment market don’t seem to have the skills required for straightforward tasks and that is not good enough.
“There needs to be much more rigorous testing of reading, writing and arithmetic skills in primary school. The SNP has got it wrong in having stand-alone tests in S4 because that’s far too late for many pupils to actually grasp these basic skills.
“Scottish Conservatives want more rigorous testing in literacy and numeracy by the end of Primary 7. Despite supporting our calls, Fiona Hyslop and the SNP Government have done nothing to implement that policy. Parents have a right to know why.” |
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Average drug fines plummet since 2001/2 – Cocaine by a staggering 34% -
The average amount dished out in fines for drug possession has declined dramatically since 2001/2.
The average fine for cannabis possession dropped by 10% between 2001/2 and 2007/8.
Fines for amphetamine possession and ecstasy possession are down 14% and 8% respectively.
The most serious drugs of heroin and cocaine saw average fines fall a staggering 18% and 34% over the same period.
John Lamont MSP, Shadow Minister for Community Safety, says:
“These figures are appalling and are certainly a damning indictment of the previous Labour/Lib Dem Executive’s shambolic approach to drug abuse.
“Reducing the amount of a fine for drug possession sends out completely the wrong message. In particular, the drop in average fines for heroin and cocaine, two highly addictive and lethal drugs, should set alarm bells ringing. Heroin continues to devastate communities across Scotland and cocaine use has increased in the past decade. Neither trends will be halted by a soft-touch justice system.
“"Scotland is still in the grip of the disaster of drugs abuse and these figures are yet more proof why the new National Drugs Strategy, delivered by the Scottish Conservatives and focusing on recovery, was so badly needed. It was designed to combat a problem that was not being properly addressed.
“Scotland has suffered for far too long from the effects of drugs abuse. It ruins lives, destroys families and scars communities. Scottish Conservatives are determined to make the difference.” |
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SNP retreat on blanket minimum pricing as plans collapse into complete disarray -
The SNP Government’s Alcohol Bill will not include a specific minimum price per unit of alcohol, according to reports today.
Murdo Fraser MSP, Scottish Conservative Deputy Leader, says:
“This is further proof that the SNP's plans for blanket minimum pricing are in disarray and they are running scared. I understand that their aim is to have the ability to vary the rate of minimum pricing but not making the preferred starting price public at this stage is dishonest.
“The SNP's policy is probably illegal, penalises responsible drinkers and will cause immense damage to the Scotch whisky industry. Instead they must work with us and the other parties supporting measures on which we can all agree, like targeting tax increases on problem drinks such as alcopops and strong ciders.
“As long as Alex Salmond's SNP Government will persist, they have a duty to let the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish public know what they are planning. The fact they are not proves they know their plans are in complete disarray." |
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Just one in ten convicted of domestic violence go to jail -
Just one in ten people in Scotland convicted of domestic violence receive a custodial sentence, with the vast majority receiving a monetary punishment or an admonishment.
Bill Aitken MSP, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Justice, uncovered the figures in a parliamentary answer.
Bill Aitken MSP says:
“Just 579 of the 5,029 people convicted of domestic violence in the past year received a custodial sentence. Compare this to the 1,968 who paid a fine, or the 1,467 who were ‘admonished’. Something is wrong here and it shows Scotland is a long way from zero tolerance towards domestic abuse. I will be investigating why the custodial rate is so low.
“Domestic violence can affect anyone and in particular can traumatise any children who witness it. A huge number of domestic violence incidents are never even reported, which makes the situation even worse.
“We need to send out a much stronger message to those who commit domestic violence that it simply will not be tolerated. People will not be deterred if they are not afraid of the consequences.
“This is also another reason why we must continue the fight against those who want to scrap sentences of six months or less. If the SNP and Lib Dems had their way then even fewer people convicted of domestic violence would be going to jail and that is totally unacceptable.” |
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Scanlon calls for apology as Chair of NHS Highland campaigns for SNP on minimum pricing -
Mary Scanlon MSP, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health & Wellbeing, is demanding an apology from the Chair of NHS Highland after he lobbied her on behalf of the SNP.
Garry Coutts, Chair of NHS Highland, wrote to Mary Scanlon urging her to support the ‘radical legislation’ on minimum pricing put forward by the SNP Government.
Mary Scanlon MSP says:
"I was extremely concerned to get this letter from Mr Coutts, which amounted to him campaigning on behalf of the SNP Scottish Government. He needs to be clear that this is not his job. Of course politicians can be lobbied but not by someone in a position appointed by the Scottish Government and one which demands complete political neutrality.
"The SNP's plans for blanket minimum pricing are probably illegal, penalise responsible drinkers and will cause immense damage to the Scotch whisky industry. It is no wonder they are breaking rules in a desperate bid to stop the tide of criticism. Instead they must work with us and the other parties supporting measures on which we can all agree, like targeting tax increases on problem drinks such as alcopops and strong ciders.
“Was Mr Coutts asked to intervene or acting of his own accord? Either way, I will be writing to Mr Coutts, asking him to apologise and pledge not to undertake this type of political campaigning again.” |
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Salmond and SNP see sense on double jeopardy -
Reports today state the Scottish Law Commission will recommend the Scottish Government scraps the double jeopardy rule – a stance advocated by the Scottish Conservatives since 2007. The reports also state that such a move would mean Angus Sinclair will face a historic second trial for the World’s End murders.
John Lamont MSP, Shadow Minister for Community Safety, says:
“This is a very welcome step – in a general sense and also because the World’s End murders were amongst the most harrowing in Scottish history. Before the last Holyrood elections, Scottish Conservatives proposed that in cases where new or compelling evidence becomes available, a retrial should be allowed at the discretion of the Lord Advocate and the Scottish Court of Criminal Appeal. This was roundly rejected by the Scottish Executive at the time.
“In recent years, forensic technology has advanced to such an extent that material not formally useable as evidence could now be pivotal. At Westminster, the Conservatives welcomed a change in the law to allow suspects to be tried a second time for the same crime, if new evidence surfaces.
“That same change should now be made in Scotland. In those few cases where new evidence enables the delivery of justice to a killer or other serious offenders and solace to a family, it is a change well worth making. It is pleasing Alex Salmond and the SNP have seen sense on this issue and we will support this measure every step of the way.” |
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We need more health visitors to help tackle child malnutrition -
Scottish Conservatives want more health visitors to help tackle child malnutrition.
Speaking after she raised the issue at FMQs today, Annabel Goldie MSP, Scottish Conservative Leader, says:
“I was alarmed and appalled when I discovered this week that out of one and a half thousand children admitted to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow, more than 150 were suffering from malnutrition. This is a disgrace and an affront in modern day Scotland.
“Government statistics recently obtained by the Conservatives claimed that in hospital admissions only 48 children across the whole of Scotland were suffering from malnutrition. There is a huge variation between these figures. How can we deal with this problem if we do not know how bad it is? We only know about those admitted to hospital - how many children do we not know about?
“We can make a start with more child health visitors. Health visitors are the key to preventing child malnutrition. There is a GP practice in Springburn with 7,000 patients on its books with only one health visitor. And there is another practice in Possil with no health visitor at all.
“This is totally unacceptable – the scandal of child malnutrition and the scandal of too few health visitors go hand in hand. The First Minister must demonstrate his resolve to tackle child malnutrition and back Conservative policy for more health visitors, for all of our children throughout Scotland.” |
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Salmond wriggling out of minimum pricing legal advice commitment -
Alex Salmond is trying to wriggle out of his commitment to publish legal evidence the Scottish Government has taken in relation to its bid to introduce a minimum price for alcohol sales.
On October 29th 2009 he said the legal advice would be published. A week later his Deputy, Nicola Sturgeon, contradicted this. And today at FMQs he clearly backtracked in his response to Murdo Fraser MSP, Scottish Conservative Deputy Leader.
Murdo Fraser MSP says:
“The First Minister is trying to wriggle off the hook here. It is quite clear that the 'information' Alex Salmond said could be made available was the legal advice. Despite his best efforts when I questioned him in the Chamber today, he cannot backtrack now.
“It is essential that any legal advice the Scottish Government has taken is seen by the opposition parties. Whatever your views on minimum pricing, it is pointless having a debate on a potentially illegal policy.” |
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Commonwealth Games report: Projects behind schedule -
The Audit Scotland report on planning for the delivery of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow has been published.
Bill Aitken, Scottish Conservative MSP for Glasgow, says:
“We are already £80million over budget – incidentally a figure that was announced after this report had concluded – and the Games are still five years away. Now I see from the report that many of the new venues, venues being refurbished or upgraded and the games-related major transport infrastructure projects are behind schedule.
“I am not alone in being hugely concerned by these estimates, especially as we have such a long way to go. Unless a firm hand is exercised, this project could spiral out of all control. Taxpayers need to know which budget will bear the costs and what else will be cut to pay for the increased costs
“All eyes will be on Scotland in 2014. The Commonwealth Games is one of the most prestigious events anywhere in the world. We simply cannot afford to get it wrong.
“Scotland’s international reputation is currently in the hands of the SNP Government and Labour’s Glasgow Council. In order to reassure everyone and outline exactly what plans there to halt the spiralling black hole and get the Games back on track, a statement must be made to the Scottish Parliament as soon as possible.” |
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Nuclear report: Time for SNP to grow up -
Nuclear report: Time for SNP to grow up
The SNP Government has published its response to the Scotland without Nuclear Weapons Working Group Report.
Murdo Fraser MSP, Scottish Conservative Deputy Leader and Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education & Lifelong Learning, says:
“The SNP needs to stop wasting time and taxpayers’ money with this completely unsubstantiated nonsense. It is all very well forming a half-baked policy to appease the lunatic element of the party when in opposition, but now the SNP is in government and has to grow up.
“The suggestion we need ‘peace studies’ in schools is little short of brainwashing. With a recession still raging, there are far more important things for Alex Salmond’s SNP to do than indulge in this self important twaddle.” |
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Aitken: Extend football banning orders to include sectarian offences committed away from football grounds -
Aitken: Extend football banning orders to include sectarian offences committed away from football grounds
During today's statement on Sectarianism, Bill Aitken MSP, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Justice, asked the Scottish Government to extend football banning orders to include sectarian offences committed away from football grounds.
Bill Aitken MSP says:
"Many bigots travel to away games and are precluded from getting into the stadium because of the restricted space made available to away fans – but the same people will go to their own ground of choice at next week's home game.
“If they commit a sectarian offence then a banning order should be imposed just as it would be if the offence had been committed inside a football ground. That would result in deterring those who behave in such a vile, bigoted and ignorant manner.” |
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90 days since Megrahi release: Time we saw all the evidence -
90 days since Megrahi release: Time we saw all the evidence
Conservatives have called for all records on the Lockerbie bomber's license compliance and medical condition to be made public, on the 90th day since he received a hero's welcome in Libya.
Compassionate releases are normally only granted when the criminal has a prognosis of three months or less.
Bill Aitken MSP, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Justice, says:
“Alex Salmond's SNP refused to publish independent medical advice which they used to free the Lockerbie bomber.
“Mr. Megrahi lost all rights to patient confidentiality when he became Britain's worst mass murderer. Scotland is still sickened by the sight of his hero's return to Tripoli.
“He is supposed to be regularly monitored in Libya to ensure he complies with the terms of his freedom licence. The Scottish Government must ensure full details are published, including backdated reports and all on-going medical assessments.” |
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Forth Road Bridge: Number one transport priority in Scotland deserves better than megaphone diplomacy -
Forth Road Bridge: Number one transport priority in Scotland deserves better than megaphone diplomacy
The Scottish Government has unveiled the legislation needed to build the new Forth Road Bridge.
Gavin Brown, Scottish Conservative MSP for Lothians, says:
"We cannot take the risk that the existing bridge is closed to traffic within the next ten years. To cut off the east of Scotland and Fife from Edinburgh and the south is simply unthinkable. A new crossing is of both Scottish and UK significance in the road network and delays to its completion would have a serious impact on the recovery of thousands of businesses from this recession.
"Although we know the new bridge is expensive and we know the public finances are under severe pressure, Conservatives believe it is quite simply the number one transport priority in Scotland. It must go ahead, and businesses across Scotland need to know that this is not mere political aspiration – it is a cast iron commitment."
David Mundell MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland, says:
"An incoming UK Conservative Government’s would sit down and hold talks with the Scottish Government to discuss possible funding ideas. We would strive to find solutions, and avoid the megaphone diplomacy and the grudge and gripe which has characterised inter-government relations for far too long."
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Scotland has been hit hardest by Labours recession -
Scotland has been hit hardest by Labour’s recession
The Fraser of Allander Institute has published a report saying Scotland will recover from recession more weakly than the rest of the UK and that the Scottish economy will achieve almost no growth during 2010.
Derek Brownlee MSP, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, says:
 "I hope that the prediction about emerging from recession comes true, albeit our recovery will be slower than the rest of the UK. Scotland has suffered hardest from Labour's debt mountain, Labour's jobs crisis and Labour's recession.
"The fact remains that we were first in and last out of this downturn, and Scottish unemployment has rocketed by 50% over the past year. That is a sad commentary on Labour's disastrous handling of the economy."
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Fixed Penalty Notices: We need to send out a much stronger message -
Fixed Penalty Notices: We need to send out a much stronger message
 Figures obtained by the Scottish Conservatives show that people are receiving Fixed Penalty Notices for offences such as riotous behaviour in a pub and being drunk whilst in charge of a child. The figures also show that last year almost 9,500 people were caught urinating or defecating in a public place.
Margaret Mitchell, Scottish Conservative MSP for Central Scotland, who uncovered the figures, says:
“It is disturbing that almost nine and a half thousand Fixed Penalty Notices were handed down last year for urinating or defecating in a public place. The public will be astonished by these figures. Worse still, these statistics are almost certainly an underestimate of the problem, as they record only those actually caught.
“Furthermore I am appalled that FPNs are being issued for riotous behaviour in a pub, vandalism, or being drunk in a public place in charge of a child. Anyone who exhibits this behaviour should be receiving a more severe punishment than the equivalent of a minor parking offence.
“Whilst reducing pressure on our police and criminal justice system is a laudable aim, it cannot be done for the convenience of the criminal or to massage crime statistics. Alarmingly, SNP Ministers can add to this list at any time – they must resist any further dumbing down of our justice system.
“If these perpetrators are not worried about the consequences, they will not be worried about their actions. We need to send out a much stronger message to discourage this behaviour.” |
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Commonwealth Games bailout: Is Glasgow 2014 another Holyrood building disaster? -
Commonwealth Games bailout: Is Glasgow 2014 another Holyrood building disaster?
The budget for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow is to be increased by £81million, in the form of a bailout using public money.
Murdo Fraser MSP, Scottish Conservative Deputy Leader, says:
“This is every bit as bad as we feared and it is no wonder people believe that every single public works programme runs over budget. At any moment it would be a problem, but in these difficult economic times it is simply appalling.
“All eyes will be on Scotland in 2014. The Commonwealth Games is one of the most prestigious events anywhere in the world. We simply cannot afford to get it wrong or we will be a laughing stock.
“We are already £80million over budget and the Games are still five years away. Is this going to be another disaster on the scale of the Scottish Parliament?
“The SNP Government and Labour’s Glasgow Council should be thoroughly ashamed. In order to reassure everyone and outline exactly what plans there to halt the spiralling black hole, a statement must be made to the Scottish Parliament as soon as possible.
“We need to know if there is more bad news to come. Why is the black hole already so huge? What is being cut to pay for the bailout? Taxpayers deserve to hear the whole truth.” |
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High Parliament maintenance costs are Labours chickens coming home to roost -
High Parliament maintenance costs are Labour's chickens coming home to roost
Reports today state the cost of maintaining the Scottish Parliament building is to rise by 40% to £1.6m a year.
David McLetchie MSP, Scottish Conservative Parliamentary Business Manager, says:
“This is one of the many things about Holyrood Labour chose not to tell us and dumped on the parliamentary authorities.
“High maintenance costs were inevitable from the minute the Labour Government opted to build a Parliament with a unique, complex and expensive design like Holyrood. This is another example of chickens coming home to roost and in these difficult economic times, it is not good enough.” |
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Smith: Tough times mean priority cannot be Scots language -
Smith: Tough times mean priority cannot be Scots language
Reports today state an £800,000 overhaul of the Scottish Parliament’s website is designed to make it ‘more accessible to people whose first language is not English’. There is even an option to translate content into Scots.
Liz Smith MSP, Shadow Minister for Children, Schools & Skills, says:
“There is no question we need to protect and promote different cultures. However, these are unprecedented difficult economic times. Why is public money being spent on promoting the Scots language, spoken by a few thousand at most, when more funds are needed in classrooms across the country?
“Tough times and dwindling budgets mean tough choices. We have to prioritise and sadly, this seems like another exercise to keep the PC lobby happy.” |
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Hyslop backing for Trust Schools welcome, now she has to show she means it -
Hyslop backing for Trust Schools welcome, now she has to show she means it
Fiona Hyslop has been harried into backing Trust Schools because of Conservative pressure.
Liz Smith MSP, Shadow Minister for Children, Schools & Skills, says:
“I am delighted that because of Conservative pressure, Fiona Hyslop now realises she can no longer stand in the way of reform in Scotland's schools.
“Parents and teachers want headteachers to have far more say over how they run their own schools; indeed the overwhelming majority of headteachers said exactly the same thing in a Scottish Government survey published two weeks ago.
“The current structure of state schooling may work fine for some but certainly not for all. We have seen education spending double since 1999 yet standards have flat-lined or, in some cases, declined. That means we are letting down too many of Scotland's children.
“Standards will only improve if we allow parents more choice over where they send their child to school and if we give headteachers far more autonomy.
“Fiona Hyslop has gone a small way to repairing her tattered reputation by admitting Conservatives have the right policies when it comes to governing Scotland’s schools. She now has to show that these aren’t merely warm words and that she really means it.” |
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What will they cut? SNP needs to get real on free school meals -
What will they cut? SNP needs to get real on free school meals
An expert panel commissioned by the SNP Government is now recommending free meals for all primary school pupils.
Liz Smith MSP, Shadow Minister for Children, Schools & Skills, says:
"We need to get real here. The introduction of universal free school meals is not the best use of taxpayers' money. In these difficult economic times, scarce resources should not be spent assisting those who can well afford to pay. Just like prescriptions, resources should be spent on helping those most in need.
"The Scottish Government is now proposing to extend free school meals to all primary school pupils. That would be unaffordable without cutting other important spending on education and once again it would divert millions of taxpayers' money to families who do not need assistance.
“Is Fiona Hyslop willing to tell us what she would cut to pay for this scheme? Yet again, she simply doesn't get it when it comes to targeting the most urgent priorities in our education system." |
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Fraser: Statement needed on Commonwealth Games black hole -
Fraser: Statement needed on Commonwealth Games black hole
Taxpayers will have to fill a black hole in the budget for the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. The black hole currently stands at £80million.
Murdo Fraser MSP, Scottish Conservative Deputy Leader, says:
“This is simply unacceptable. People will be forgiven for thinking that every single public works programme is running over budget. At any moment it would be a problem, but in these difficult economic times it is simply appalling.
“All eyes will be on Scotland in 2014. The Commonwealth Games is one of the most prestigious events anywhere in the world. We simply cannot afford to get it wrong or we will be a laughing stock.
“We are already £80million over budget. The SNP Government and Labour’s Glasgow Council should be thoroughly ashamed. In order to reassure everyone and outline exactly what plans there to halt the spiralling black hole, a statement must be made to the Scottish Parliament as soon as possible.” |
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Radio Frequency Controlled Cigarette Vending Machines: When livelihoods are at stake MSPs should spare 5 minutes -
Radio Frequency Controlled Cigarette Vending Machines: When livelihoods are at stake MSPs should spare 5 minutes
 The National Association of Cigarette Machine Operators (NACMO) visited the Scottish Parliament to demonstrate their Radio Frequency Controlled Cigarette Vending Machines on Thursday November 12th which have been designed to stop under age purchases of cigarettes from vending machines and which have been praised by Trading Standards Officers.
Jackson Carlaw MSP, Shadow Minister for Public Health, says:
"The Government's tobacco bill seeks to ban all vending machines which sell tobacco products. But Radio Frequency Controlled Cigarette Vending Machines effectively prevent purchases unless authorised by the proprietor after the same age verification undertaken at any other retail premises selling tobacco has been completed. This is an excellent example of business taking a mature approach to meet Government concerns, while protecting the jobs of Scottish workers and the future of several small family businesses.
“Regrettably few MSPs, including the Convenor and several other members of the Health & Sport Committee overseeing progress of the Bill, bothered to even turn up to see the demonstration. Nor did the Minister or her officials put in an appearance. This is shameful. Clearly some MSPs who are fond enough of their own opinions did not wish to have their pre-conceived ideas challenged by seeing for themselves how effective these machines are.” |
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Town Centre Regeneration Funding: Only because of Conservative pressure -
Town Centre Regeneration Funding: Only because of Conservative pressure
The Scottish Government has today announced the successful bids for the second tranche of Town Centre Regeneration funding, worth £20m.
Derek Brownlee MSP, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Finance & Sustainable Growth, says:
“This final £20m of Town Centre Regeneration funding is excellent news for the successful local communities. Taken together with the £40m of funding allocated in August as part of Conservative success in the 2009/10 budget, communities in every part of the country have benefited from regeneration funding.
“This funding would not have been available if Labour and the Liberal Democrats had succeeded in their plans to block the Town Centre Regeneration Fund. It is further help for struggling communities in Labour’s recession.
“Along with the substantial business rate reductions secured by the Conservatives it is clear that help for our small towns and small businesses only happens with Conservative pressure.” |
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SNP bluster blown apart as local Labour triumph over Brown -
SNP bluster blown apart as local Labour triumph over Brown
Speaking about the result in the Glasgow North East by-election, David Mundell MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland, says:
“Ruth Davidson fought a good campaign and we are all very proud of her. This was a predictable success for the Scottish Labour Party, which has held the seat since 1945. Willie Bain did his best to disassociate himself from Gordon Brown and the UK Labour party, fighting the campaign instead on a local basis, as a local candidate, standing up for local issues.
“There was barely any reference to Gordon Brown in their campaign literature and their candidate even made a virtue of saying he would oppose Gordon Brown to stand up for his constituents. It therefore has little significance for the General Election, where there will be a clear choice: another five years of this tired and failing Labour Government or change, hope and optimism under David Cameron's Conservatives.”
Ruth Davidson, Scottish Conservative candidate in the Glasgow North East by-election, says:
“I am delighted with this result. Glasgow North East was always going to be a difficult fight for us but we came third and held onto our deposit. This contrasts with similar by-elections before 1997, when Labour was the third place party it lost its deposit [both in Newbury and in Christchuch in 1993]. I personally have loved the campaign and have enjoyed meeting the great people of Glasgow North East, seeing what good is going on in local communities as well as seeing what needs to be done to improve people’s lives.
“Labour have been given another opportunity to deal with the many problems in the area – after 74 years it is time they took this responsibility seriously and I hope Willie Bain lives up to his promise to stand up for his constituents.
“I think the Conservative Party has shown that we will put up a strong fight whenever and wherever we need to in Scotland. That will very much be the case in the British General Election when it comes and I would expect the Conservatives to win seats all over Scotland.”
Annabel Goldie MSP, Scottish Conservative Leader, says:
“This is a terrible result for the SNP and Alex Salmond must be sitting in his bunker wondering where it all went wrong. The Nationalists made no impact against Labour and their vote actually fell.
“They ran a poor campaign and their poor result reflects that. It is now abundantly clear that when it comes to a British Election the SNP are irrelevant.
“The SNP’s boast that they will be the powerbrokers in a hung Parliament with 20 seats now looks utterly ridiculous. People no longer believe the Salmond bluster. At the British General Election the SNP will be irrelevant - the only way people can get rid of this tired and failing Labour Government is by voting for David Cameron's Conservatives.” |
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Salmond ‘nettled’ as he refuses to address problems in Scotland’s education system -
Salmond ‘nettled’ as he refuses to address problems in Scotland’s education system
Alex Salmond is refusing to address the inherent problems in Scotland’s education system, highlighted by leading educationalists.
Speaking after FMQs today, Annabel Goldie MSP, Scottish Conservative Leader, says:
“The First Minister may want to sit in his bunker and distance himself from those who do know what they’re talking about. However, I would have thought that a significant proposal from someone in his own party, like David Berry, would at least have merited some response from the education minister, the hapless Fiona Hyslop.
“On Monday – nothing. On Tuesday – nothing. On Wednesday – nothing. Today – nothing.
“So there we have the Scottish Government’s contribution to the educational debate – one is too busy taking his dentist out to dinner to bother, and the other is rendered mute. What a shambles.
“Alex Salmond’s attempt to use an attack on the Conservatives to mask the inherent problems within our education system is pathetic. It was not the views of the Conservatives which were put to him, but the views of two independent experts and a member of his own party. Clearly he is nettled and his government has no ideas.”
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Aitken: Proposal to presume against short jail sentences ‘simply not acceptable’ -
Aitken: Proposal to presume against short jail sentences ‘simply not acceptable’
The Justice Committee has published its report on the Criminal Justice & Licensing (Scotland) Bill. In the report, the Committee did not support the presumption against short jail sentences.
Bill Aitken MSP, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Convenor of the Committee, who used his casting vote to defeat these proposals, says:
"There are a number of issues in this Bill which are problematic. These concerns revolve around a number of important legal issues such as disclosure and defence statements and how we deal with the issue of the age of criminal responsibility.
“If there is some dialogue all parties then some progress can be made, but the proposal to presume against short jail sentences is simply not acceptable and is a potentially dangerous measure. Those who support such a move would have to say who they do not wish to get sent to prison.
“Is it the wife beater, the fourth time disqualified driver, the small time drug dealer, all with previous convictions or is it the petty thief who has reoffended for the umpteenth time? These are the people who get short jail terms at the moment.
“We need both a deterrent in sentencing and a recognition that sometimes communities need a break from the activities of such people, who require effective rehabilitation in prison.” |
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Hapless Hyslop admits class sizes pledge is a disaster -
Hapless Hyslop admits class sizes pledge is a disaster
Fiona Hyslop today admitted that the SNP’s class sizes pledge is a disaster and progress is not being made.. She was appearing before the Education Committee in the Scottish Parliament.
Liz Smith MSP, Shadow Minister for Children, Schools & Skills, says:
“Over a year ago I called for the SNP to abandon something so unworkable and unrealistic. The SNP misled voters with this misguided policy. It was nothing more than a cynical exercise in buying votes.
“The hapless Hyslop has been found out today, admitting that the class sizes pledge is making no progress.
“As a recent poll showed, smaller class sizes are nowhere near being the priority of ordinary Scots. Parents don’t want Alex Salmond dictating how many children should be in a class – they want headteachers and teachers left to get on with the job teaching their children how to read, write and count.
“This policy will cost millions of pounds of scarce public money, funds which would be much better spent by schools themselves rather than politicians’ pet projects.
“Scottish Conservatives want policies which will drive up standards and increase choice for parents. Fiona Hyslop’s SNP colleagues in East Lothian have seen the light and she needs to listen to them and stop holding back our children’s education.” |
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50 jobs in danger at Stracathro because of SNP crusade against private healthcare -
50 jobs in danger at Stracathro because of SNP crusade against private healthcare
There are reports today that the SNP Government’s decision to move The Scottish Regional Treatment Centre at Stracathro from private management to NHS control could cost 50 jobs. This is in addition to the £600,000 cost to the NHS budget.
Jackson Carlaw MSP, Shadow Minister for Public Health, says:
"This is further tragic proof that the SNP’s ideological crusade against private healthcare is eating into health budgets, costing jobs and undermining patient care.
“The Stracathro pilot saved taxpayers’ millions of pounds, reduced waiting lists and waiting times and delivered all this without a single incidence of Hospital Acquired Infection. It’s little wonder that the vast majority of patients rated their experience as 'excellent'.
“Despite all the evidence that the pilot has been a fantastic success the SNP decided to scrap it, and all because it involves the independent sector. 50 jobs could be lost. £600,000 will have to be found from NHS budgets to transfer the hospital into full state control. Surgical procedures previously undertaken at evenings and weekends to reduce waiting lists and times will be scrapped. As far as the SNP Government is concerned all this is a price worth paying for ideological purity.
“Once again it’s clear that Nicola Sturgeon is more concerned about what works in theory than she is about what works in practice. When will she learn that the public is far more concerned with the latter than the former?”
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Wildlife crime trebles in a decade -
Wildlife crime trebles in a decade
Scottish Conservatives can reveal that wildlife crime incidents have nearly trebled in less than a decade.
Dr Nanette Milne MSP, Shadow Minister for the Environment, says:
“Wildlife crime is deplorable and we must do all we can to wipe out this disgusting practice. Based on today’s figures, we are a long way from achieving that goal.
“Whilst there may be a case for the tightening of existing legislation, it is the consistent enforcement of that existing legislation which is the real problem.
“Scotland has some of the strongest wildlife protection laws in Europe and our efforts should be primarily focused on ensuring the existing legislation is properly used and enforced.
“There appears to be a greater public awareness of and willingness to report wildlife crimes but we have no idea how many of these offences were successfully prosecuted and the severity of sentences being handed out. I will be tabling further questions to get to the bottom of this.” |
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Metal detectors for knives: It is the law which must be changed -
Metal detectors for knives: It’s the law which must be changed
The Scottish Government has announced details of a £30,000 scheme where hand-held metal detectors are to be handed out to bars in Scotland in a bid to fight knife crime. The devices will be available to winners of bar safety awards.
Bill Aitken MSP, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Justice, says:
“This is all very well but the fact remains that in the SNP’s soft-touch Scotland, someone caught with a knife will, like everybody else, only serve a maximum of half of their sentence in jail. In many cases, they will be out even earlier.
“We need to end the discredited system of automatic early release and introduce a presumption of a mandatory minimum jail term of two years just for carrying a knife. Those who use knives should expect an even longer term in jail. Only in the most exceptional circumstances will the court have any discretion.
“Improving the detection of these knives is welcome but now we have to improve the punishment. Go outside with a knife and you’ll be going inside.” |
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Salmonds treats for friends: Now he must publish full list of gifts given out using public cash -
Salmond's treats for friends: Now he must publish full list of gifts given out using public cash
The Herald blog is reporting that Alex Salmond charged the taxpayer for treating his dentist to a slap-up dinner and a pop concert.
Annabel Goldie MSP, Scottish Conservative Leader, says:
“Whilst everyone else is tightening their belts Alex Salmond is handing out gifts to his friends at the taxpayers' expense. I think it is absolutely disgraceful he feels he can treat his dentist to a night out courtesy of the public but I'm afraid this is all too typical of Alex Salmond. There is now a growing list of questionmarks over his spending including Westminster food bills while Parliament was on holiday, plush hotels in America and a refusal to pay Council Tax on Bute House.
“Mr Salmond needs to come clean and explain why he is handing out treats to friends at taxpayers' expense and he needs to publish a list of all other gifts given out using the public's cash.
“Trust in politics is at an all time low. It is the responsibility of all politicians to restore that trust. Alex Salmond must be open and transparent and, in these tough times, set an example of thrift.” |
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Focus on vocational skills will get Glasgow working again -
Focus on vocational skills will get Glasgow working again
Today Ruth Davidson, Scottish Conservative candidate in the Glasgow North East by-election, was joined by Michael Gove MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Children, Schools & Families, as they visited North Glasgow College.
Ruth Davidson says:
“For too long society has valued academic learning at the expense of vocational skills. We need to rebalance our thinking and give each equal weight. Vocational courses, such as those run at North Glasgow College, equip people for the real world of work.
“When Britain recovers from Labour's recession and Labour’s jobs crisis, our country will need people with the skills to meet renewed demand.
“Labour is the party of dole queues and debt. The Conservatives are the party of jobs and opportunities. We will get Glasgow back to work.”
Michael Gove says:
“It was a pleasure to visit the College with Ruth today. I was deeply impressed with the staff and students who are working hard to acquire the skills needed for the world of work.
“The key to recovery lies in jobs. The Conservatives have the policies to make a real difference. And in Ruth, the people of Glasgow North East have someone with the drive and passion to get Glasgow working again.” |
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Sex offenders still not barred from working with children – Another broken promise from the SNP -
Sex offenders still not barred from working with children – Another broken promise from the SNP
New Scottish Government guidelines on protecting vulnerable groups do not contain measures to stop registered sex offenders from working with children.
In 2006, the SNP called for this practice to end, but are refusing to implement it in government. It is yet another broken promise from the SNP.
Liz Smith MSP, Shadow Minister for Children, says:
“It is extremely disturbing that this loophole remains open. Nicola Sturgeon was very specific in 2006 – she said it should be closed. We completely agree with her, which is why the SNP’s steadfast refusal to stick to their word is yet another broken promise. They say one thing in opposition, and do another when in government.
“Parents the length and breadth of Scotland have been betrayed. Registered sex offenders should not be allowed to work with children. Conservatives have also continually called for satellite tracking on sex offenders and the use of polygraph or lie detector tests where they breach the terms of licence.
“The SNP have broken yet another promise – how many more?” |
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Nuclear power station sites: A lost opportunity -
Nuclear power station sites: A lost opportunity
The UK Government has announced a list of sites for new nuclear power stations – with none being proposed situated in Scotland.
David Mundell MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland, says:
"This is a lost opportunity to not just maintain jobs but to create new ones.
“Scotland needs a mix of both nuclear power and renewables not just to meet our energy needs but also to meet our carbon reduction targets.
“Renewables alone will not be enough. The SNP is more interested in its ideological stance than keeping the lights on in Scotland.
“Alex Salmond's position on nuclear power means that Scotland will end up being importers of nuclear energy from England. Once again, he is guilty of hypocrisy - on the one hand calling for a nuclear power free Scotland but on the other pleading for nuclear power headquarters to stay in Scotland.
“The Conservatives believe that Scotland should have a mixed supply of energy sources and that the low carbon nuclear option should be retained in Scotland.” |
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Conservatives will fight unemployment by helping people gain the skills they need to find work -
Conservatives will fight unemployment by helping people gain the skills they need to find work
Today Ruth Davidson, Conservative candidate in the Glasgow North East by-election, was joined by Annabel Goldie MSP, Scottish Conservative Leader, as they visited Ritchies, a company that provides individual and company training, as well as forces resettlement training.
Ruth Davidson says:
“Today is a reminder that Labour is the party of unemployment, debt mountains and dole queues.
“The challenge for us is to get Glasgow working again. Conservatives would make sure that people are equipped with the skills that they need to take advantage of employment opportunities.
“We would create the right environment for new businesses to be created. Conservatives would support people who are seeking work by helping them to gain the skills they need.
“That is why it is a great pleasure for me, not least as a former TA member myself, to visit Ritchies Training Centre today and meet some ex-service personnel. The work they do is invaluable, especially with members of the armed services as they prepare for civilian life and work.”
Annabel Goldie MSP says:
“This time of year reminds us of the debt we owe to our Armed Forces.
“It reminds us of how critical it is that the military covenant duty of care should extend beyond active service.
“We heard today that the resettlement grants given to ex-service men and women don’t cover many of the vocational courses many ex-servicemen and women might want to do. The Conservatives have set up an Armed Forces Military Covenant Commission, and welfare issues are a key part of this work.
“Conservatives know and appreciate the dedication which our service men and women have given to our country. We will not let them down.” |
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Hapless Education Minister must listen to SNP calls for school reform -
Hapless Education Minister must listen to SNP calls for school reform
Liz Smith MSP, Shadow Minister for Children, Schools & Skills, says pressure is increasing on Fiona Hyslop, the SNP's hapless Education Minister, as East Lothian SNP Council leader supports Conservative plans for radical reform. Mr Berry's proposals would allow the introduction of new trust schools and therefore signifies a break from the SNP's obsession with local authority control.
Liz Smith says:
"Fiona Hyslop can now no longer stand in the way of reform in Scotland's schools as one of her SNP own has seen the light and admitted the Conservatives are right.
“Ms Hyslop now needs to listen to her SNP colleague in East Lothian and do something right for a change. Parents, teachers and now SNP Councillors want schools to have more of a say in running themselves - the only person standing in the way is the Hapless Hyslop. My message to her is 'get out of the way and stop holding back our children's education.'
“Scottish Conservatives have been arguing for a very long time that the current structure of state schooling may work fine for some but certainly not for all. We have seen education spending double since 1999 yet standards have flat-lined or, in some cases, declined. That means we are letting down Scotland's children.
“Standards will only improve if we allow parents far more choice over where they send their child to school and if we give headteachers far more autonomy. That is the Conservative message and one which has obviously struck a chord with Mr Berry.
“Only last week, a survey of headteachers showed that two thirds wanted far more say in running their own school especially when it comes to teacher recruitment and to discipline policy, and in September a YouGov poll showed that parents want that too." |
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Minimum pricing legal advice: McLetchie urges SNP not to break another promise -
Minimum pricing legal advice: McLetchie urges SNP not to break another promise
The SNP are breaking yet another promise, after Nicola Sturgeon performed a U-turn on Alex Salmond’s promise to share the legal advice the SNP Government had taken on minimum pricing.
David McLetchie MSP, Scottish Conservative Chief Whip, has written to the First Minister urging him not to break yet another promise.
David McLetchie MSP says:
"Alex Salmond told MSPs that he would share the legal advice his government had taken on minimum pricing. However Nicola Sturgeon is now backtracking on this and performing a U-turn on the First Minister's behalf.
"I have written to Alex Salmond, enquiring whether he will honour his undertaking. The SNP's minimum pricing policy is probably illegal, penalises responsible drinkers and will cause immense damage to the Scotch whisky industry.
“Nicola Sturgeon's reluctance to divulge this information is a sure sign that the policy is falling apart at the legal seams. She would be well advised to drop blanket minimum pricing now and focus her attentions on these areas where there is a consensus in the Parliament." |
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SNP let cat out the bag: £9million and 155 wasted days for independence referendum as we fight recession -
SNP let cat out the bag: £9million and 155 wasted days for independence referendum as we fight recession
The SNP candidate in the Glasgow North East by-election has let the cat out the bag on the real cost of an independence referendum - £9million.
Annabel Goldie MSP, Scottish Conservative Leader, says:
“The cat is out the bag. In the middle of Labour’s recession, where belts will have to be tightened, the SNP wants to spend £9million of taxpayers’ money, and waste 155 days, on Alex Salmond’s rigged referendum.
“This is £9m that could be spent fighting Labour’s recession, rather than pursuing a path to independence at the public’s expense.
“Mr Kerr also said the National Conversation will cost ‘several million pounds’. Our research shows that so far nearly a million pounds has been spent on the National Conversation but Mr Kerr is right to say it will be significantly higher.
“Now that we know the SNP’s referendum bill will fail it is time for Mr Salmond to act responsibly and kill the bill.
“On average a bill takes around 155 days to clear. That is taxpayers’ time and money – time and money that will be wasted on this referendum bill because we know it will fail.
“The SNP are only bringing forward this bill because it furthers their narrow and extreme constitutional agenda at the taxpayers’ expense. All this at a time when we are being told by the Auditor General that we need to tighten our belts. Alex Salmond and the SNP should be ashamed.” |
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