Green MSP turns pink!

Alison Johnstone will ‘wear it pink’ on Friday

Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, has shown her support for women with breast cancer by dressing up in pink and encouraging her constituents to take part in Breast Cancer Now’s flagship fundraiser, wear it pink, this Friday (23 October).

wear it pink, the UK’s biggest pink fundraiser, is calling on supporters across the country to ditch the day-to-day colours and pull on some pink to raise money for Breast Cancer Now’s life-saving breast cancer research.

Alison joined fellow parliamentarians in wearing it pink in Holyrood to encourage people across Scotland to get involved. Now in its 14th year, wear it pink raises over £2 million each year for world-class research into breast cancer, and this year it is back and bigger, brighter and bolder than ever before.

Anyone can take part, whether in school, at work or at home. All you have to do is wear something pink and donate whatever you can.

Alison Johnstone said: “Breast cancer is at a tipping point. Every year around 4,600 women in Scotland are diagnosed with the disease, and sadly nearly 1,000 people still lose their lives.

“Due to incredible research by organisations like Breast Cancer Now, more people are surviving breast cancer than ever before. I’m proud to support this brilliant work by wearing it pink – it’s a fun way for people to get involved in the fight against cancer.

“Together, we can make a huge difference for women living with breast cancer. I hope everyone in my community will join me in wearing it pink on Friday 23 October and show their support for Breast Cancer Now.”

Launched in June 2015 with the ambition of ensuring that no one dies from the disease by 2050, Breast Cancer Now is the UK’s largest breast cancer charity, created by the merger of Breast Cancer Campaign and Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

This is a day when we stand out, stand together and stand for something: wear it pink on Friday 23 October to support Breast Cancer Now’s life-saving research.

For more information or to register for wear it pink visit

www.wearitpink.org

Austerity: There IS another way, says Scottish Government

‘ … not only are these cuts ideologically driven, they are also unnecessary’ – First Minister Nicola Sturgeon

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has set out an alternative option for a UK wide fiscal mandate that would ensure sustainable UK public finances while releasing additional investment in public services and infrastructure compared to the UK Government’s planned cuts.

The illustrative figures show that the austerity proposed by the UK Government is not required to secure a current budget balance.

Under an alternative fiscal plan, the UK’s current budget could be balanced from 2019-20, with public sector net investment increased to 2 per cent of GDP over the same period.

As an illustration of the scale of unnecessary reductions being pursued by the UK Government, this would allow an additional £150 billion in cumulative investment in public services across the UK between 2016-17 and 2019-20 compared to the UK Government’s current plans – which could see Scotland receive around £12 billion.

In contrast, the fiscal targets set out by the UK Government in its summer budget require a significant reduction in public spending, with cuts of £12 billion to welfare and potential cuts of around £20 billion to public services expected by 2019-20. UK Government reductions in spending go beyond what is necessary to balance the budget.

The work, published by the Scottish Government yesterday, shows that UK Government plans, which would see a significant reduction in public spending, with cuts of £12 billion to welfare and potential cuts of around £20 billion to public services expected by 2019-20 are not required.

The Scottish Government example would ensure that public sector debt and borrowing were on a downward path every year from 2016-17 to 2019-20. Net borrowing would continue to fall each year from 4.9 per cent in 2014-15 to 2 per cent in 2019-20 – below the average deficit of 3.6 per cent seen in the UK over the past 40 years.

The First Minister said: “This week, the UK Parliament will vote on the Chancellor’s proposals for what are unnecessary and ideological cuts to public spending.

“The pain of the UK Government’s austerity agenda is already having an impact on some of the poorest and most vulnerable in our society, and is beginning to bite across the country. But the UK Government’s latest fiscal targets mean even more painful austerity is ahead for people across the UK, with further cuts to public services and welfare planned over the next four years.

“As our alternative proposals demonstrate not only are these cuts ideologically driven, they are also unnecessary.

“Our paper published today – which updates our fiscal mandate proposals following the UK Government’s summer budget – outlines an alternative to ensure the debt and deficit are put on a downward path while allowing up to an additional cumulative £150 billion of investment across the UK by 2019-20 – with around £12 billion in Scotland.

“The Scottish Government has consistently demonstrated that the deficit and debt can be brought down without the need for the huge public spending reductions that have been set out.

“As this alternative option shows, not only could we maintain investment in public services and protect the poorest and most vulnerable in society, the UK current budget would be balanced by 2020, with limited borrowing set aside for capital investment to increase the country’s productive capacity.

“There is a different path to austerity available – as our alternative option shows, it is a viable path and it is an opportunity that the UK Government should grasp.”

The alternative options are set out in the paper –http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Economy/Publications/Options-for-the-UK-Fiscal-Mandate

Parliamentarians return to Muirhouse Community Centre

Next week sees the return of Colin Keir MSP and Michelle Thomson MP for their surgeries (writes James McGinty). Both attract large amounts of people with their general inquiries.

Colin is on the first Monday of the month whilst Michelle is on the first Friday of the month. We would encourage people to use these services.

To visit their websites click HERE for Colin and HERE for Michelle

Referendum anniversary: Time to move on, says PM

‘More Scots voted to keep our kingdom united than have ever voted for any party in any election in Scottish history’ – Prime Minister David Cameron

Speaking one year after the people of Scotland voted to remain part of the United Kingdom, the Prime Minister today said he is focussed on delivering devolution so that the debate can move on from what powers the Scottish Parliament should have, to how they are used to better the lives of the people of Scotland.

He added that the UK government will shortly table an amendment to the Scotland Bill to put beyond doubt that Holyrood is here to stay.

The Prime Minister said:

One year ago Scotland’s majority spoke.

More Scots voted to keep our kingdom united than have ever voted for any party in any election in Scottish history.

They voted decisively for a powerful Scottish Parliament within a strong and secure United Kingdom. We listened.

So let me be crystal clear: Scottish devolution is woven into the very fabric of our United Kingdom.

We will table an amendment to the Scotland Bill so there is absolutely no doubt: Holyrood is here to stay.

Alex Salmond, Nicola Sturgeon and I signed the Edinburgh Agreement which pledged we would all respect the outcome of last year’s momentous vote.

We all agreed – as do the Scottish public – that the independence referendum should be a ‘once in a generation’ or a ‘once in a lifetime’ event.

So now it is time to move on.

Some may want to obsess about separation.

But I am focussed on delivering devolution so that the debate can move on from what powers the Scottish Parliament should have, to how they are used to better the lives of the people of Scotland.

And today, on the anniversary of that historic vote, let me repeat: we are delivering a new, accountable and permanent Scottish Parliament. Holyrood will be one of the most powerful devolved Parliaments in the world.

‘A country of extraordinary compassion’: UK to welcome up to 20,000 refugees

‘this is a country of extraordinary compassion, always standing up for our values and helping those in need.’ – Prime Minister David Cameron

The Scottish Government has welcomed Prime Minister David Cameron’s announcement that Great Britain is to give refuge to up 20,000 Syrian people and has offered to work with Westminster to tackle the humanitarian crisis.

Speaking in the House of Commons yesterday, the Prime Minister said: “Britain already works with the UN to deliver resettlement programmes and we will accept thousands more under these existing schemes. We have already provided sanctuary to more than 5,000 Syrians in Britain and have introduced a specific resettlement scheme, alongside those we already have, to help those Syrian refugees particularly at risk.

“But given the scale of the crisis and the suffering of the Syrian people it is right that we should do much more. So Mr Speaker, we are proposing that Britain should resettle up to 20,000 Syrian refugees over the rest of this Parliament.

“In doing so we will continue to show the world that this is a country of extraordinary compassion always standing up for our values and helping those in need.”

The Scottish Government has repeatedly called on the UK Government to play a part in a co-ordinated European response to this emergency humanitarian issue and has pledged to take a fair and proportionate share of refugees in Scotland.

Responding to the Prime Minister’s announcement, Scotland’s Minister for Europe and International Development Humza Yousaf said:

“As made clear by the First Minister at last week’s emergency humanitarian summit, Scotland is willing to take our fair share of refugees to help some of the most vulnerable people in need.

“We welcome the Prime Minister’s shift in attitude and late recognition that the UK has a role to play as an important first step. The 20,000 refugees over five years should not be seen as a cap or an upper limit and we must also play our part in responding to the crisis on the southern European coast line.

“We believe that the UK Should opt in to the EU relocation scheme and while the Prime Minister has made clear that the year one resettlement will be funded from the UK international aid budget, we seek urgent clarification on the impact that this will have on the work of existing aid projects.

“The refugee situation is at crisis point now and stretching UK support and refugee intake over the next five years means a number of people who could be helped immediately will be left without the vital help they need.

“We want to work constructively with the UK Government and the First Minister has again, today, written to the Prime Minster outlining the proceedings of Friday’s summit which focused on looking at some of the practical issues involved in integrating those who come here to seek protection.

“Today, I met with the Scottish Refugee Council to discuss the immediate service provision required to take in refugees and tomorrow I will chair the first meeting of the taskforce which will bring together stakeholders from across Scotland in the areas of local government, housing, health services, language support, transport and social services and will co-ordinate Scotland’s humanitarian and practical response.

“This is first and foremost a humanitarian crisis and it requires a humanitarian response. The overwhelming support we have seen from the Scottish people over the past few days shows our willingness to help the most vulnerable in the world.”

Keir welcomes Scottish stance on refugees

Chisholm condemns Westminster inaction

SNP MSP Colin Keir has welcomed the launch of the ‘Scotland Supports Refugees’ initiative. The volunteer-led organisation has been set up to raise awareness about the refugee crisis in Europe, campaign for action and raise funds to support humanitarian relief.

Following First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s comments on the refugee crisis at FMQs Colin Keir SNP MSP for Edinburgh Western said: “Daily we see people driven by desperation drowning in the Mediterranean Sea while the UK government remains unwilling to act responsibly and welcome refugees fleeing Syria and other war torn nations.

“I warmly welcome the formation of the ‘Scotland Supporting Refugees’ initiative and support wholeheartedly their aims. It is a gross dereliction of its humanitarian responsibilities to act in the way the UK government currently is.

“I call on Prime Minister David Cameron to recognise that he is increasingly out of step with public opinion and change the UK position now. He should join Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in welcoming refugees.”

Earlier today local MSP Malcolm Chisholm also welcomed the Scottish Government’s commitment to support those in desperate need. He said: ” Magnificent leadership from NicolaSturgeon and Kezia Dugdale on refugees at First Minster’s Questions. Shame on David Cameron and the UK Government.”

Sturgeon sets out her stall

Education set to be key battleground in next year’s Holyrood elections

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has placed education at the heart of her Programme for Government, outlining how her vision of a fairer and more prosperous society can be achieved through helping Scotland’s young people.

Unveiling the Scottish Government’s plans for the final year of this parliamentary term, the First Minister announced a new National Improvement Framework that will help close the gap in attainment and ensure all children are being equipped with the skills they need.

The framework will help track the progress of all children, introducing a national system of standardised assessment in P1, P4, P7 and S3 that will bring consistency to the assessment of literacy and numeracy and tracking of progress across Scotland.

A wide-ranging legislative programme will see eight new bills introduced, with measures included to strengthen the law on harassment and sexual offending; increase security for private tenants, protecting against excessive rents; and implement the recommendations made by the Infant Cremation Commission.

The First Minister also announced additional support for Scotland’s kinship carers, with additional funding to local authorities to increase financial support for kinship carers to the same level as foster carers.

Outlining her plans for Scotland’s public services, the First Minister announced plans to complete the integration of health and social care by April 2016 and test new models of primary care in ten sites across Scotland. She also announced that policing would be strengthened by a national review of police governance and a new requirement on the Chief Constable to submit to local public scrutiny sessions.

Ms Sturgeon proposed that the next Scottish election to follow the 2016 poll will be held in 2021, as she confirmed that the Scottish Elections (Dates) Bill would be brought forward in the forthcoming session.

And she confirmed that the Scottish Government would begin to implement the additional powers to be devolved following the Smith Commission process, with a planned cut in air passenger duty to be brought in from 2018, and a Scottish rate of income tax to be set for 2016/17 in the forthcoming budget.

The First Minister said: “Improving school attainment is arguably the single most important objective in this Programme for Government. “Improving it overall and closing the gap between children in our most and least deprived areas is fundamental to our aim of making Scotland fairer and more prosperous.

“To address it, we need to be open to innovation and new practice – that’s the purpose of our £100 million Attainment Fund.

“But we also need to have better information about attainment so that we measure progress consistently and drive change. We need to be able to see what’s working and where we still need to improve.

“So I can confirm that we will establish a new National Improvement Framework – a draft of it is being published today. We will introduce new national standardised assessments for pupils in primaries 1, 4, 7 and in the third year of secondary school.

“The new assessments will focus on literacy and numeracy. They will be piloted next year in schools participating in the Attainment Challenge and then introduced in all schools in 2017.

“The new national assessments – which we will develop in partnership with local government, teachers and parents – will replace the variety of different assessments already used by local authorities. So they will not increase teacher workload – indeed, as a government, we are mindful of the need to reduce bureaucracy so that teachers can focus on what they do best: helping children to learn.

“These new assessments will introduce greater consistency to Curriculum for Excellence. They will provide reliable evidence of a child’s performance or progress – but they will not be the sole measurement. This is not about narrowing the curriculum or forcing teachers to “teach to a test”. It is not a return to the national testing of old. And the assessments will inform teacher judgment – not replace it.

“They will provide robust and consistent evidence to help teachers judge whether or not a child is achieving the required level of Curriculum for Excellence”.

The First Minister concluded: “This ambitious and reforming Programme for Government speaks to our aspirations. It sets out how this Government will work – now and in the long term – to achieve our vision for Scotland’s future.

“And it demonstrates how enduring values – a belief in enterprise, a faith in the value of education, a commitment to fairness and solidarity, and a passion for democratic engagement – can be applied to make Scotland a fairer and more prosperous country.”

Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said the SNP government’s record on education was not one to be proud of and called for more investment in front-line staff.

She said: “Almost half of the poorest kids leaving primary school are unable to write properly or to count properly. “That should shame us as a nation.”

Ms Dugdale added that instead of putting money into recruiting ‘attainment advisers’, the government should invest in teaching staff.

She went on: “Let’s see money invested in the teachers who are working with those pupils who face the biggest barriers to educational achievement.

‘We know who they are and where they work. We know so many of those teachers already defy the odds daily and help their pupils to shine.

“We can reward these teachers, we can give them more classroom assistants, we can bring in a new Enhanced Teacher Grade to raise the skills and rewards of those teaching in the most challenging classrooms.”

The Scottish Greens welcomed intention to tackle inequality, introduce rent controls for private tenants and oppose anti-union legislation – but are challenging ministers on climate change, education, health and land reform.

The Green say the First Minister made no mention of climate change despite the government’s failure to meet emissions targets four years running, but it did contain further support for oil and gas extraction and cutting air passenger duty. They added that the First Minister’s statement provided no clarity for communities concerned about fracking and underground coal gasification.

Patrick Harvie, Scottish Green MSP for Glasgow, said: “This final list of legislation before the 2016 election shows a Scottish Government that remains cautious in most areas but on housing it’s welcome to see ministers responding to the growing calls for greater security for tenants. Bringing in controls in areas where rents are spiralling beyond people’s means is something I have long advocated, and I look forward to seeing the detail of the Bill.

“On welfare, we know the UK Government intends to cut a further £12 billion as part of its cruel austerity agenda. Today’s comments from the First Minister on the creation of a Scottish Social Security system are welcome, as is her understanding that we must restore dignity to the welfare state.

“On land reform, we must see the proposed Bill toughened up if we genuinely aspire to a more democratic system of land ownership. And the lack of action on climate change must be challenged in light of four years of failed targets and the opportunity to create many more jobs in low carbon industries.

“Critically, the SNP must put an end to its contradictory positions on fracking and similar environmental threats – voters next year deserve to know what the SNP actually intend to do on this contentious issue.”

Alison Johnstone, Scottish Green MSP for Lothian, said: “On education, we know that class sizes have gone up, spending per pupil has remained flat, and college places have been cut. So the move towards standard testing seems a strange priority, and ministers will have their work cut out convincing people that it will help.

“A better focus would be support for teaching staff by reversing cuts to Additional Support Needs, an area that is vital to giving every child the best chance to succeed. And the same goes for Adult Learning, an area that needs real investment if we want a more equal society.

“On health, we know too many people are experiencing lengthy waits for treatment and our NHS staff are under pressure due to tight budgets, rising costs and more complex health needs. We need better connections within the NHS and more focus on preventative spending, and Green MSPs will continue to press for these priorities.”

Kerr welcomes New York direct flights

‘ a real diamond route’ – Colin Keir MSP

Colin Keir MSP for Edinburgh Western has welcomed the announcement by Delta Airlines/Virgin that their joint venture will launch a new Edinburgh to New York service from May 2016.

Mr Keir said: “All new routes from Edinburgh are welcome as they boost employment and tourism opportunities, something that is vital to the Edinburgh and wider Scottish economy.

“With direct flights to New York, Edinburgh will link with the most influential global financial centre. Add to this the tourism potential and it makes this a real diamond route.

“Well done to Edinburgh Airport CEO Gordon Dewar and his team for securing this route and to Delta and Virgin for identifying Edinburgh as a positive destination.”

Cast Adrift

New definition hides true extent of child poverty

Around 120,000 children will be ‘cast adrift’ if the UK Government changes its definition of child poverty, Social Justice Secretary Alex Neil has said.

In a letter to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Mr Neil urged the UK Government to focus on tackling the root causes of child poverty instead of redefining the way it is measured.

Proposals set out in the Welfare Reform and Work Bill would mean the UK Government would no longer be required to take action to reduce the number of people living on low incomes. Instead, the focus would move to ‘worklessness’ and ‘educational attainment’, ignoring the increasing problem of in-work poverty which affects 120,000 children in Scotland.

UK Government figures, released in June, showed an increase in the number of children living in poverty to 3.71 million after housing costs were taken into account. Of this total 65 per cent of the children were from families where at least one parent was working. This highlights the fact that progress in reducing child poverty, and improving the chances for all children, will be difficult without improvements to the living standards of working families. However these figures will not be taken into account if the Bill is passed.

Mr Neil said: “By changing the definition of child poverty the UK Government is hiding the true extent of the problem and casting adrift the 120,000 Scottish children whose parents are working on low incomes and struggling to pay their bills.

“The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions must rethink these flawed plans. They will only gloss over the impact of the UK Government’s austerity agenda and fail to show the shocking reality of its inexcusable attack on low-paid families.

“The Scottish Government will continue to measure and report on the wide range of factors that drive child poverty including income, educational attainment and health outcomes. Our sophisticated measurement framework was developed with experts and leading children’s organisations and is helping us to understand the full scale of the problem and find the most effective ways to address it.

“Around 210,000 children are living in relative poverty after housing costs are paid, but these numbers are likely to soar in coming years because of cuts to social security. Reforms to tax credits alone will reduce the incomes of between 200,000 and 250,000 households in Scotland, with families facing almost £700 million of cuts.

“We recognise that any serious attempt to tackle inequality has to focus on in-work poverty, which remains very high. That’s why we are calling for powers over the minimum wage, employment policy and working-age benefits to be devolved to Scotland.

“We have invested £296 million in welfare measures and around £329 million over two years to expand free early learning and childcare, including extra provision for disadvantaged children, while our work to encourage employers to pay the Living Wage is also helping to increase income levels in Scotland. We have appointed our first Independent Adviser on Poverty and Inequality who will be looking at what more we can do to address inequalities.”

Double exposure at Holyrood

Photography in sharp focus at the Scottish Parliament

World-leading photojournalism takes centre stage at the Scottish Parliament this summer as two inspirational exhibitions are unveiled today.

The World Press Photo (WPP) Exhibition 2015 is an international contest for photojournalists and features 130 moving and thought provoking images taken during the course of 2014. Once again the Scottish Parliament is the only Parliament in the world to host the exhibition.

Michael Peto: Politics in Focus includes photographs by Michael Peto – the celebrated Hungarian-born photographer who witnessed some of the most historic moments of the 1950s and 1960s. The exhibition includes a number of unseen photographs of some of the world’s most iconic figures. People who have shaped and changed the way we see the world including Nelson Mandela, Winston Churchill, Indira Ghandi and Jennie Lee.

Both exhibitions are free to visit and will be on display in the Scottish Parliament’s Main Hall and Burns Room (Committee Room 1) until Saturday 22 August.

The Presiding Officer, the Rt Hon Tricia Marwick MSP said: “The photographs in these two exhibitions show photojournalism at its finest. The images may be split by decades but what they have in common is their quality and thought provoking nature. They capture moments of time and make us look at who we are and what we do in a different way.

“I am proud that the Scottish Parliament is once again home to remarkable photography exhibitions that offer the people of Scotland the chance to see these images in their Parliament.”

Award-winning actor Brian Cox, Rector at the University of Dundee and Patron of the Peto collection, added: “From humble beginnings Michael Peto grew into an incredible artist and photographer. With an intense interest in the variations of human form he had a talent for capturing his subjects in their natural environment.

“This collection is an extraordinary gift he has left us, so please learn, appreciate, enjoy.”