First Minister Nicola Sturgeon today outlined the steps the Scottish Government will take to progress the debate on Scotland’s future in light of Brexit, and the action to be taken to protect the option for an independence referendum to be held within the current term of the Scottish Parliament. Continue reading Brexit highlights cracks in broken Britain
SNP MSP Gordon Macdonald has called on Labour MSPs to get behind the full devolution of rail services to Scotland, after a former Labour transport minister urged that the Scottish Parliament be given full responsibility over Network Rail.
Tom Harris, a senior adviser to the Rail Review, said that all lines, signals, stations and infrastructure under the control of Network Rail should be transferred to a new body, answerable to the Scottish Government.
Network Rail is currently responsible for railway infrastructure and is accountable to Westminster, not Holyrood.
In November, Labour MSPs were criticised for voting against the full devolution of rail, despite almost 60% of delays on Scotland’s railways over the last year being attributable to Tory government’s shambolic operation of Network Rail.
SNP MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Gordon Macdonald, said: “The SNP in government has consistently called for the full devolution of rail services, but successive Labour and Conservative governments have repeatedly denied Scotland a full say over how its railways are run – talking a good game while doing absolutely nothing to deliver the powers we need.
“The Rail Review gives us an opportunity for meaningful change. Full devolution of services currently under the control of Network Rail would help to improve performance on the railways and allow for a coherent, joined-up approach to transport.
“It’s time for Labour to get on board with the common sense approach – handing over full control of the rail infrastructure to Scotland to help ensure our railways deliver for all passengers in Edinburgh.”
UK Government immigration proposals threaten family reunification
Scots who currently live in another EU country, but who hope to come back to live in Scotland one day, will find it much harder to bring family members with them when they return, if and when the UK leaves the EU.
That is the prospect facing thousands of Scots as a consequence of the UK Government’s proposals for UK citizens in the EU post Brexit, Scottish Government Minister for Europe, Migration and International Development Ben Macpherson said today.
Mr Macpherson said that UK citizens living in the EU deserved guarantees from the UK Government about their rights to return home with family members if and when the UK leaves the EU.
“The ‘Stay in Scotland’ campaign launched by the First Minister earlier this month made clear how much the Scottish Government values the contributions made by EU citizens living and working in Scotland,” he said.
“Of course the negative consequences of the UK Government’s planned exit from the EU also extend to the rights of UK citizens living in other member states, and I am particularly concerned about the implications for those who hope to return to Scotland with their families in the future.
“Under UK Government proposals, due to come into effect in 2022, someone with a non-UK national spouse and children will no longer be allowed to return to Scotland with his or her family unless strict financial thresholds are met. This is unfair.
“I do not accept that someone’s ability to return to Scotland should be judged through arbitrary financial requirements, that do not take into account individual and often compassionate circumstances. The UK Government must seriously reconsider their proposals.
“Scots who want to return to Scotland from elsewhere in the EU should be able to bring their families with them, no matter how much they earn.”
The importance of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects in the early years of Scottish education is to be explored by the Scottish Parliament’s Education and Skills Committee. Continue reading Putting down roots: the importance of STEM subjects to be explored
Members of the Scottish Parliament’s Justice Sub-Committee on Policing are asking police to stop their deployment of cyber-kiosks or ‘digital triage devices’ until there is greater clarity on the legal framework for their use in a new report out today. Continue reading MSPs call for police ‘cyber-kiosk’ rollout to be paused
The extent of empty homes and how these can be brought back into use is to be investigated by Holyrood’s Local Government and Communities Committee. Continue reading Holyrood Committee launches inquiry into Scotland’s empty homes
The Scottish Conservatives have called on the Scottish Government to ‘Look after those who look after us’ during a Holyrood debate. Continue reading ‘Look after those who look after us’: supporting our superheroes
The Scottish Parliament has launched a new immersive video experience allowing people to take a virtual tour of the iconic building from anywhere in the world. Continue reading Take a virtual tour of the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament has today launched a search for all the babies who were born on 1 July 1999, the same day that the Scottish Parliament was established. Continue reading Holyrood launches search for parliament’s birthday babies
Some of Scotland’s youngest climate change protesters have been invited to have their say at the Scottish Parliament. Continue reading Young climate change protesters to meet Holyrood committee
